Ethermac Exchange-Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans win play-in games to claim final two spots in NBA playoffs

Tyler Herro recorded 24 points,Ethermac Exchange 10 rebounds and nine assists and the host Miami Heat punched their ticket to the playoffs with a convincing 112-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in the one-sided win in the final Eastern Conference play-in game. The Heat will face the top-seeded Boston Celtics on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs. Miami and Boston met in the last two East finals, with Boston prevailing in 2022 and the Heat winning last season.

Miami dominated Friday's contest even with star Jimmy Butler sitting out with an MCL injury to his right knee. Butler was injured in Wednesday's play-in loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kevin Love contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, and Bam Adebayo scored 13 points for the Heat.

DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points and Nikola Vucevic had 16 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for the Bulls. Coby White had just 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting after scoring 42 points against the Atlanta Hawks two nights earlier.

Javonte Green added 12 points off the bench, and Ayo Dosunmu had 10 on 3-of-15 shooting for Chicago.

Miami also defeated the Bulls last season in the battle for the final spot in the East. The Heat eventually lost to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

Miami shot 46.3% from the field, including 14 of 33 from 3-point range.

The Bulls made 38% of their attempts and were 13 of 43 from behind the arc.

Chicago trailed 70-60 after a basket by Green with 3:15 left in the third quarter, and then Miami delivered the knockout punch.

Delon Wright and Herro made treys during the quarter-ending 12-0 run for an 82-60 lead, and Jaquez scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to push the lead to 24.

Jaquez later converted a three-point play and added two free throws 59 seconds later as the Heat built a 99-70 advantaged with 7:05 left in the game and cruised to the finish.

DeRozan's trey gave Chicago an early 11-6 lead before Miami rolled off 19 straight points. Haywood Highsmith scored the final basket of the spurt as the Heat held a 25-11 advantage with 4:52 left in the opening quarter.

Miami later led by 19 in the quarter before taking a 34-17 lead into the second period.

Chicago trimmed its deficit to 47-37 at the break.

DeRozan scored 15 in the half for the Bulls, while Jaquez led Miami with 10.

Pelicans defeat Kings, secure No. 8 seed in West

Brandon Ingram recorded 24 points, six rebounds and six assists and the New Orleans Pelicans clinched the Western Conference's final playoff berth with a solid 105-98 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Trey Murphy III added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists as New Orleans cruised despite the absence of Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain).

Reserves Larry Nance Jr. (13 points), Naji Marshall (11) and Jose Alvarado (10) contributed off the bench for the Pelicans, who will face the top-seeded Thunder in the first round of the postseason. That series opens Sunday in Oklahoma City.

New Orleans went 6-0 against the Kings this season, counting the play-in victory.

De'Aaron Fox had 35 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Kings. Domantas Sabonis finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and Keegan Murray had 11 for Sacramento, which will miss the playoffs for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons.

Williamson was hurt in New Orleans' Tuesday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and is slated to be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

The Pelicans shot 51.8% from the field, including 7 of 19 (36.8%) from 3-point range.

Sacramento made 40.9% of its attempts and was 11 of 41 (26.8%) from behind the arc. Davion Mitchell added 10 points for the Kings.

New Orleans led by nine after three quarters and quickly elevated the gap to 20.

Valanciunas converted a three-point play, Ingram scored four straight points and Alvarado knocked down a 3-pointer during a 10-0 spurt that saw the Pelicans take a 97-77 lead with 6:35 left.

The Kings closed within seven in the final minute before Herbert Jones blocked a 3-point attempt by Fox and had the ball passed to him for a dunk with 8.1 seconds left.

Jones scored 12 first-half points as the Pelicans held a 54-45 halftime advantage. Fox scored 18 in the half for Sacramento.

The Kings led 31-29 early in the second quarter after a basket by Mitchell before New Orleans responded by scoring 24 of the next 33 points to open up a 13-point advantage.

Ingram began the third quarter with a three-point play to give the Pelicans a 57-45 lead. Jones made a 3-pointer to make it 65-51 with 9:11 to play in the period.

Mitchell later knocked down two treys during a 9-2 run as Sacramento moved within 71-64 with 5:37 remaining.

Ingram's late basket gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead entering the final stanza.