Chicago Bulls' Zach LaVine Getting In Rhythm Could Be Bad News For Miami Heat

Zach LaVine is coming off his most meaningful performance in a Chicago Bulls uniform.

He's also played at full strength the second half of the season since undergoing offseason knee surgery last surgery. Those factors combined could pose a problem for the Miami Heat in Friday's play-in game.

LaVine scored 39 points in Wednesday's victory against the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls rallied from 19 points to remain in the postseason hunt. It is considered his first signature moment in Chicago.

"He was phenomenal," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "What he did at the end of the third quarter and going into the fourth, it would've been very difficult for us to win that game if he had not done that."

LaVine has 12 25-point games since March 1, proving he is fully recovered from last season's injury that caused him to miss the season opener last October against the Heat.

"I knew I was going to get into rhythm coming off the injury in the summertime," LaVine said. "Credit to him (teammate DeMar DeRozan), he did a good job talking to me when I was upset early in the season. About a month before All-Star break, I started feeling like myself and you guys can see the numbers show it and I want to take that into these play-in games."

LaVine ranked 15th in the league in scoring at 24.8 points a game while also averaging 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. DeRozan said it's time for folks to realize LaVine is a "special" talent.

"It's not too many people in this league that has the talent the he has," DeRozan said. "It feels good just to be able to see him get appreciated."

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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