Key Takeaways:
- Norman Powell notched 21 points as Miami Heat edged the Chicago Bulls 116-113
- Ayo Dosunmu delivered a game-high 23 points to spearhead the Bulls’ late fourth-quarter comeback attempt
- Both sides are set for a rematch in Miami on Saturday night, in the second of three consecutive meetings
Match Analysis
On Thursday night in Chicago, Norman Powell steered the Miami Heat to a hard-fought 116-113 win over the Bulls, combining potent offence with late-game composure. Bam Adebayo contributed a double-double, registering 20 points and 12 rebounds to bolster Miami’s efforts. Despite enjoying a 13-point cushion early in the fourth quarter and leading 104-92 with just over eight minutes on the clock, the Heat were pushed to the limit by a resurgent Chicago finish.
Headed back to Miami with the dub 😎 pic.twitter.com/EWnaPlnbaS
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 30, 2026
Chicago’s Fourth-Quarter Push
Ayo Dosunmu was instrumental in the Bulls’ spirited comeback, finishing with 23 points. Trailing by 10 at 110-100, Dosunmu engineered a scoring run, posting consecutive layups and landing a three-pointer to trim the deficit to three with 2:05 remaining. Norman Powell responded for Miami with a layup before Nikola Vucevic dropped in a turnaround hook shot, bringing it to 112-109 with 54 seconds left.
Both Dosunmu and Powell converted a pair of free-throws to maintain the tight margin, and after Coby White was fouled by Pelle Larsson, White sank both from the line to cut Miami’s lead to one with only seven seconds on the clock. Larsson then produced a crucial dunk two seconds later, restoring a three-point advantage for the Heat. White’s subsequent missed three-point shot in the final moments confirmed the victory for Miami.
Player Performances and Statistics
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | Miami Heat | 21 | 0 |
| Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat | 20 | 12 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 7 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat | 19 | 10 |
| Pelle Larsson | Miami Heat | 15 | 6 |
| Nikola Vucevic | Chicago Bulls | 15 | 10 |
| Matas Buzelis | Chicago Bulls | 16 | 9 |
| Kevin Huerter | Chicago Bulls | 15 | 10 |
| Coby White | Chicago Bulls | 14 | 4 |
Looking Ahead
Thursday’s contest marked the first of three consecutive meetings between these two sides. The action shifts to Miami next, with the Heat set to host the Bulls on Saturday night as both teams look to make adjustments for the second instalment of this compelling series.
