Josh Giddey regrets play-in trouncing by Miami Heat

Josh Giddey scored a team-high 25 points, but he needed 21 shots to do it in the Chicago Bulls’ season-ending loss to the Miami Heat. After going 15-6 to close the regular season, familiar demons appeared in the play-in tournament in a 109-90 loss.

Tyler Herro, someone who’s been a thorn in Chicago’s side in numerous play-in games, scored 38 and led the Heat to a convincing road win. That sent the Bulls back into the lottery and the Heat into another do-or-die game with the Atlanta Hawks. Giddey reflected after the loss.

Josh Giddey laments lack of response to Heat punches

The Chicago Bulls swept Miami 3-0 during the regular season, but the Heat got the last laugh. They pestered Josh Giddey, the only Bulls player to get to 20 points in the game, all night. They jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first quarter and never really looked back.

“They punched us first, and we didn’t respond the way we had to,” Giddey said via ESPN after the game. “Credit to Miami. They’re well-coached; they’re a good team. They’ve been in this position before, as some of our guys here. We obviously knew what was at stake tonight. We just didn’t come out with the right mentality, the right mindset. And it’s what happens — you lose, your season’s over just like that.”

The Bulls seemed to have the momentum. They’d just beaten the Heat days prior and earned the home game this time instead of visiting Miami. They also were one of the NBA’s hottest teams down the stretch, and that included wins over some really good teams.

Regrettably, the Heat came together when it counted thanks to Tyler Herro’s exceptional performance. Erik Spoelstra, the Heat coach, knew coming in that they would be a challenge. His team responded by never trailing the Bulls.

“They had two games where we felt like we were in control of the game both times in the fourth quarter and they came storming back and had some impressive scoring quarters. Our guys really respected how much they could score. To hold that team to 90, it’s not an easy task,” Spoelstra admitted.

Now, the Bulls will turn their attention to the lottery. Depending on how the Heat and Mavericks do in their last play-in game, the Bulls can rise and get a slightly better chance at somehow landing the first overall pick.