The Miami Heat edged the Chicago Bulls 116-113 in a tightly contested makeup game played at the United Center at 5:00 AM on January 30, 2026.
Miami controlled most of the contest before surviving a late Chicago comeback attempt in front of 20,685 fans.
The victory moved the Heat to 26-23 while the Bulls fell to 23-25 despite a fourth-quarter surge.
First Half – Miami Controls Early Pace
Miami set the tone immediately by scoring 34 points in the opening quarter and consistently attacking Chicago’s interior defense.
Bam Adebayo established rebounding control while Norman Powell’s perimeter scoring helped stretch the defense.
Chicago struggled offensively in the second quarter, managing only 20 points as Miami built a halftime cushion.
First Half Score Timeline
| Quarter | Miami Heat | Chicago Bulls |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 34 | 31 |
| 2nd | 28 | 20 |
| Halftime | 62 | 51 |
• Heat led wire-to-wire early
• Bulls scoring drought in second quarter
• Adebayo rebounding impact
Third Quarter – Bulls Respond
Chicago mounted a response after halftime, scoring 34 points in the third quarter behind Ayo Dosunmu and balanced bench production.
The Heat still maintained control thanks to efficient scoring from Powell and secondary contributions from Pelle Larsson.
Despite the push, Miami entered the final period with a multi-possession lead.
Key Performers
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | Heat | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | 20 | 12 | 2 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Bulls | 23 | 7 | 5 |
| Kevin Huerter | Bulls | 15 | 10 | 3 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Heat | 19 | 10 | 6 |
• Chicago offensive revival in third
• Heat maintained efficiency
• Bench depth influenced momentum
Fourth Quarter – Dramatic Finish
Chicago trailed 104-92 with just over eight minutes remaining but rallied with a 21-12 run to close the gap.
Dosunmu scored on two layups and a three-pointer to bring the Bulls within three points with 2:05 remaining.
After late free throws and a Nikola Vucevic hook shot cut the deficit to one possession, Pelle Larsson dunked with two seconds left to restore a three-point margin.
Coby White missed a final three-point attempt, sealing the Miami win.
Final Quarter Breakdown
| Quarter | Miami | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 29 | 34 |
| 4th | 25 | 28 |
| Final | 116 | 113 |
• Bulls late comeback attempt
• Larsson clutch dunk
• White missed game-tying three
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category | Heat | Bulls |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 45% | 39% |
| 3PT % | 33% | 39% |
| Free Throw % | 83% | 83% |
| Rebounds | 49 | 52 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 16 |
| Largest Lead | 14 | 2 |
• Miami shooting efficiency decisive
• Chicago rebounding edge
• Heat controlled game flow 98% of time
Miami’s balanced scoring and early dominance proved enough to withstand Chicago’s late rally.
The Heat relied on efficient offense and composure down the stretch to close out a narrow road victory.
