In a pivotal matchup against the Chicago Bulls Wednesday evening, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro attempted to ignite a comeback, but his efforts ultimately fell short, leading to intense scrutiny online.
Trailing by five points with just over a minute remaining, Herro secured possession of the ball after a steal from Bulls point guard Coby White. Instead of driving for an open layup that would have narrowed the gap to three points and kept the shot clock ticking, Herro opted for a contested 3-pointer.
The attempt failed to connect, bouncing off the rim as the Bulls secured a victory with a final score of 119-111. While Herro tallied 30 points, the defeat pushed the Heat into 10th place in the standings – precariously positioned on the fringes of the play-in tournament. Chicago’s win propelled them ahead of Miami.
“I was feeling that shot,” Herro admitted after the game. It’s as simple as that. It’s the shot I was feeling. Looking back now, obviously, after missing it, I should have laid it up.
The decision drew immediate and widespread criticism across social media platforms.
However, teammate Bam Adebayo offered a staunch defense of Herro’s actions.
That kid has made countless difficult shots throughout his career,
Adebayo stated. You have to respect that kind of aggression. That’s the mark of a killer mentality. It was arguably the best look he had all night, so you live with that outcome. You wouldn’t hear any complaints if it went in.
The Heat currently hold a record of 36-44, while the Bulls improved to 37-43. Both teams have two regular season games remaining.
- Miami Heat: 36-44
- Chicago Bulls: 37-43
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
