How Miami Heat Twitter Reacted After Friday's Win Against Chicago Bulls

Everything was on the line in the Miami Heat’s play-in game against the Chicago Bulls. With a chance to clinch the final postseason spot up in the Eastern Conference, they needed a performance to propel them to victory. Would anybody be surprised if they were told Jimmy Butler was the catalyst in this performance?

Didn’t think so. Butler’s MVP performance was the story of the game. He had another masterful fourth quarter with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

“Playoff Jimmy” was on full display Friday night.

Jimmy Butler tonight pic.twitter.com/epVYBEE4FR
— Ext. Time / December 18, 2022 (@KenganAshuraOT) April 15, 2023

Jimmy in the 4th pic.twitter.com/Q9mg33b978
— Gary-(2-0)-(depressed sports fan) (@Gcolston_08) April 15, 2023

Butler didn’t work alone, though.

While most could anticipate him carrying the team to victory, nobody imagined Max Strus' night. He finished with 31 points on 7 of 12 shooting from 3-point range. Fans heaped praise on Strus after his dominant 23-point first half when he looked unstoppable from the arc.

pic.twitter.com/qpupuYSMyR
— 𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑 (@ELMALQUERERvt) April 15, 2023

The same couldn't be said about Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, who combined for just 20 points on 6 of 21 shooting. As two of the three best players on the team, these performances frustrated many online. Adebayo had 17 rebounds but his limited scoring was once again a cause for concern. He finished with eight points, and only had four until deep into the fourth quarter.

Bam adebayo is the worst player in the NBA no joke 1/9 as a centre lmao
— ⭐⭐⭐Like-a-VIRGIL⭐⭐⭐ (@Like_A_VIRGIL_4) April 15, 2023

Bam Adecardio will get cooked by Brook Lopez pic.twitter.com/exbV1WD4bN
— cooks (@cookwrld1) April 15, 2023

The rollercoaster of emotions from Heat fans showed once again. The fanbase went from degrading the team to claiming they can outlast the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

LETS GET ITTTT pic.twitter.com/xKZojmbwwC
— nick (@nick8242) April 15, 2023

The Heat play Milwaukee Sunday at 5:30 p.m., in Game 1 of the first round. The Bucks are the favorite to win the 2023 NBA Finals.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.