Kel’el Ware posted a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds and Norman Powell scored 19 points as the Miami Heat routed the host Chicago Bulls 143-107 on Friday.
Miami improved to 2-1 in East Group C of the NBA Cup to keep pace with the Milwaukee Bucks, who lead the group at 2-0. The Bulls fell to 1-2 in Cup play.
Miami led by as many as 41 points, backed by a plus-14 rebounding effort that contributed to a 26-12 edge in second-chance points.
Bam Adebayo added 18 points for the Heat, who have won three straight games for the third time this season. Chicago has lost six of eight.
Powell left the game briefly in the first quarter with a left groin strain, but he regrouped to contribute 15 first-half points on 5-for-10 shooting. Ware was even more efficient, going 5-for-9 from the floor and scoring 12 points before the break.
After leading the Bulls by four entering the second quarter, the Heat surged ahead by as many as 25 in the second. Ware converted an alley-oop dunk off a feed from Jaime Jaquez Jr. with 4:10 to go before halftime to cap an 18-2 run that featured six points from Powell and seven from Ware.
Miami led 70-52 at the break. Josh Giddey (10 points) was the only Bull in double figures on his way to 19. Ayo Dosunmu paced the Bulls with 23 points, and Jalen Smith chipped in 14.
Chicago shot 41.1% compared to 47% for Miami. The Bulls went 12-for-43 from long range while committing 18 turnovers.
Keshad Johnson scored 14 points to go with a career-high 11 rebounds for the Heat. Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell scored 16 points apiece, while Dru Smith (12) and Jaquez (10) also finished in double figures.
Giddey led the Bulls with 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Chicago’s Matas Buzelis (ankle), Isaac Okoro (lower back) and Dalen Terry (calf) were injured during the game. Kevin Huerter was ejected in the third quarter for tapping the ball toward an official after a foul call.
Nikola Jovic and Andrew Wiggins both missed the game for the Heat with hip injuries. Chicago’s Coby White was held out due to injury management as the team played the first leg of a back-to-back.
–Field Level Media
