Buzzer-beating Bulls eager for easier ride against Heat
Relying on late-game heroics is "not sustainable basketball," Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan finds.
While his players agree, they've decided to excel at this style anyway.
The Bulls return home Friday to face the Miami Heat in NBA Cup play still beaming over Wednesday's buzzer-beater in Portland. Nikola Vucevic drilled a 3-pointer to secure a 122-121 win, rescuing the Bulls after they squandered a 21-point fourth-quarter lead.
Chicago improved to 6-4 in "clutch" games -- when the score difference is within five points in the fourth quarter or overtime. Creating distance from those situations when possible, however, remains the goal.
"We can't always sit here and talk about resilience," Vucevic said. "At some point, we have to beat a team that once we do get up 10, 15, even ... 20, like (Wednesday), we stay with our foot on the gas and finish the game off."
Chicago and Miami are 1-1 in East Group C of the NBA Cup. Milwaukee leads the group at 2-0.
The Bulls have dominated the recent series with the Heat, going 8-2 in the regular season. Coby White, who dished the assist on Vucevic's big trey in Portland after driving into the lane and drawing defenders, has scored 20-plus points in five of his past six regular-season games versus Miami.
Vucevic has posted four straight double-doubles against the Heat in the regular season. That's no surprise to White.
"He's our connector. He's our leader. He makes big-time plays," White said. "He's super important to what we do. We rely on him. He has a high IQ and good feel for the game. He's so dangerous. He can roll. He can pop. He's a really, really good basketball player."
Friday marks the beginning of a brief, two-game road trip for the Heat, who are in the middle of playing 10 of 13 at home.
Miami has lost four of its last five away from Kaseya Center, but in the past two defeats was either without star center Bam Adebayo or he played limited minutes. Adebayo sustained a left toe strain during the first quarter of the Heat's Nov. 5 loss at Denver before returning to the lineup for Wednesday's 110-96 home win against Golden State.
He contributed 20 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
"I felt good," Adebayo said. "Just trying to find a rhythm, let the game come to me. And it did at some point."
After his career-best streak of 19 games with a 3-pointer ended in Denver, Adebayo shot 3-for-4 from deep Wednesday.
"We definitely missed him and glad to have him back," said the Heat's Norman Powell, who led the team with 25 points and has scored at least that many in four of the past five games.
Heat guard Nikola Jovic missed Wednesday's game with a right hip impingement he felt while attempting to work out earlier in the day and has been ruled out for Friday's game.
Chicago swept Miami 3-0 last season, winning each game by nine points or less.
Matthew Stafford Gets Honest About Bad News Surrounding Rams
The injuries are starting to pile up on the
The Rams placed offensive lineman Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee, the two longest tenured players on the team. On defense, LA placed captain
All three players are the first man up at their respective positions, with the other players on the roster needing to step up in their absence.
Matthew Stafford On Losing Key Pieces On Offense
GettyRob Havenstein suffered an ankle and knee injury in Week 11
Matthew Stafford will be without two of the longest players he has connected with since being traded from the
Rob Havenstein has been his primary right tackle and Tyler Higbee has been the main tight end since the 2021 season.
Stafford spoke to the media and was asked about the injuries to the offense, with the quarterback giving a straightforward response on the team.
“It’s unfortunate for those guys,” the QB said. “They’re such great players, good guys in our locker room; leaders. That’s tough, but it’s next man up. It’s the NFL. That’s what we have to do. We understand that’s part of the game. It’s part of the game that we all dislike. But we’re going to have to move forward with the guys we do have available.”
“Both those guys are big-time leaders and catalysts on our team and offense… Hopefully, those guys can heal up and be ready to go at some point.”
According to Pro Football Focus
Stafford will have his two primary weapons on offense, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and will likely be feeding them more over the next four weeks.
Stafford On Opportunities To Second Round Rookie
GettyThe Rams selected an offensive player with their first selection of the 2025 NFL Draft
The Rams have three more options at the tight end position with Tyler Higbee going down, with the most notable player who could step up being the 46th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Terrance Ferguson was the fourth option at tight end on the 53-man roster and will receive a small bump with Higbee on IR. The tight end hasn’t had much playing time this season, but will likely see a notable increase in snaps the next four weeks.
“[Terrance] has been rotating in and out of the game at the same regularity. They’re trying to keep those guys fresh as best as they can,” Stafford said. “We have four of them, now three, that [I] still feel really comfortable with all those guys being in the game.”
“I think it’ll be a good opportunity for all of them.”
Davis Allen has the third most receiving touchdowns of all four tight ends for the Rams this season, with three.
Stafford isn’t afraid to throw to any of his targets, but will now need to rely more on his least targeted teammates.
