This time the Miami Heat seized a fourth-quarter lead on the road and found a way to finish.
So while 2-2 might not have been the record of choice on the four-game, nine-day trip that had the team away for the holiday, Saturday night’s 107-104 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center beat the alternative.
“Fortunately, we were able to make some plays,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Sometimes it is make or miss, either way. But I thought our disposition was good against a very talented offensive team.”
With supporting players stepping forward before Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler helped close at the finish, the Heat again moved above .500 on the road and won on a night Tyler Herro was sidelined.
In was an ensemble effort that included both the unexpected and the needed. There were a season-high 20 points from Gabe Vincent, 19 points from Lowry, 18 from Butler, 16 from Duncan Robinson, 13 from Max Strus, and nine points, seven rebounds and six assists from Bam Adebayo.
“We found a way to close it out,” Lowry said of something that often has not been the case on the road.
Vincent was the key to closing time, with 16 of his points in the final period.
“I think everybody played their part,” Butler said. “We stayed together through the ups and downs.
“In the end, we got the ball where it needed to go, got some stops.”
Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:
1. Closing time: The Bulls led 74-72 going into the fourth, which matched their largest lead to that stage, after the Heat previously had led by nine.
It went back and forth from there, the Bulls up six with 11:07 to play, the Heat 100-91 lead with 2:15 to go.
But even more was needed, with a DeMar DeRozan layup with 25.9 seconds to play drawing the Bulls within 102-99
That’s when, off a timeout, the Heat designed a brilliant moment that saw Lowry go from a sideline inbounds pass to a give-and-go cut for driving layup.
“We anticipated a possible trap, and he just read it great for the give-and-go,” Spoelstra said.
Butler’s season-high fifth steal followed and it was effectively over.
“At least we were more organized. It always helps if the ball goes in,” said Spoelstra, with the Heat 7 of 13 on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
2. Angry moment: Not only were the Heat without Herro, but backup centner Dewayne Dedmon was ejected with 11:07 to play after kicking a chair at the end on the Heat bench in anger, with the seat cushion sent flying into the crowd and striking a fan.
Dedmon received a “hostile act” technical foul for his action, which was part of what became a four-point Bulls possession.
Players typically are also fined for such act, with a five-figure penalty possibly to follow.
Dedmon closed with two points and four rebounds in his 12:02.
“I think he underestimated how strong he was,” Spoelstra said. “James [Williams] and the officiating crew basically interpreted the letter to the law. I guess the pad went into the stands. But that was not Dewayne’s intention at all. So when we brought it in, we made him player of the game.”
3. Half full: Robinson in some ways had the game the Heat needed with Herro out, up to 16 points midway through the third period, at 4 of 11 on 3-pointers to that stage.
But Robinson also was forced out with his fourth foul with 5:37 left in the third, as his scoring ceased.
With his first 3-pointer, Robinson extended his franchise record to 68 consecutive games with at least one conversion. The 3-pointer also move him past Goran Dragic for fifth on the Heat all-time list.
“If we didn’t have Duncan make those plays and Max giving us some quality minutes,” Spoelstra said, “Kyle and Jimmy wouldn’t have had that opportunity for us closing down the stretch.”
4. Herro out: With Herro taking ill on Friday night and then ruled out shortly before tipoff, it shook up the Heat’s rotation.
Caleb Martin played as sixth man, entering midway through the opening period after P.J. Tucker was called for his second foul.
From there, Spoelstra inserted Dedmon, Vincent and Strus.
Spoelstra said what was so impressive about Vincent effort was that he did not go in trying to emulate Herro.
“It wasn’t as if Gabe was trying to be Tyler, either,” Spoelstra said. “Those were open shots that he just took within the context of the game and he got in a great rhythm.”
5. Speaking of: It was the first appearance by Strus, a Chicago-area native, after being held out of the previous two games. Strus had been honored a day earlier at DePaul.
Strus, who briefly played for the Bulls two seasons ago, led the Heat with nine first-half points, including a dunk and a 3-pointer.
“Max as that unique grit, as well,” Spoelstra said. “He didn’t play the two games before, and a lot of young players would probably be frustrated.”
