The Miami Heat didn’t just beat the Chicago Bulls — they erased them. On Friday night, November 21, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago, the Heat exploded for 143 points in a 36-point demolition, the largest deficit the Bulls had faced all season. The final buzzer didn’t just end a game — it exposed a team in crisis and a squad firing on all cylinders. And at the center of it all? 21-year-old rookie Kel'el Ware, who turned heads with 20 points and 14 rebounds, playing like a veteran who’s seen it all — even though he’s barely been in the league a year.
How a 18-11 Start Turned Into a 53-21 Nightmare
The Bulls started strong. Ayo Dosunmu hit a three, Josh Giddey spun through the lane, and for the first five and a half minutes, Chicago looked like the team that had been competing for a playoff spot. But then — silence. The Heat’s defense tightened. Their ball movement became poetry. And the scoring barrage began. Over the next 18 minutes, Miami outscored Chicago 53-21. That’s not a hot streak. That’s a demolition. By halftime, the lead was 25. And it never dipped below 14 after that. The Bulls looked lost. Their passes were late. Their shots clanged off the rim like tin cans. The energy in the United Center, usually electric for a Friday night game, turned hollow.Heat’s Offensive Fireworks: Four Times Over 140 This Season
The numbers tell a story no highlight reel could capture. The Heat scored 36 in the first quarter, 34 in the second, 32 in the third, and then dropped 41 in the fourth — a quarter that felt more like a victory lap than a basketball game. Their 143 points? That’s the fourth time this season they’ve cracked 140. Four times. In one season. That’s as many as they’d done in the previous seven seasons combined. And they’re doing it with style: Miami Heat now lead the NBA in scoring at 124.8 points per game. No one else is even close. Norman Powell added 19 points. Bam Adebayo chipped in 18. Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell each had 16. It wasn’t one star carrying the load. It was a symphony.
Chicago’s Struggles Run Deeper Than One Loss
Ayo Dosunmu’s 23 points and Josh Giddey’s near-triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) were the only bright spots for the Bulls. But those numbers don’t mask the bigger problem: they’re unraveling. After falling to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in the NBA Cup, Chicago now sits fourth in East Group C — a half-game behind the Knicks, a half-game ahead of the Hornets. That’s not playoff positioning. That’s clinging on. Coach Billy Donovan looked on helplessly as his team missed open threes and turned the ball over in transition. The Bulls’ defense? Nonexistent. Their spacing? Nonexistent. Their confidence? Cracking.And then there was Kevin Huerter. Midway through the third quarter, after a controversial foul call, the Bulls’ guard waved his hand in frustration — so hard the ball bounced off the leg of referee Che Flores. The ejection followed instantly. It wasn’t just a technical. It was symbolic. A team losing control.
Why This Matters Beyond the Standings
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. The Heat, under coach Erik Spoelstra, are no longer just contenders — they’re a force. Their depth is terrifying. Even their bench scorers are averaging double figures. And Ware? He’s not just a project anymore. He’s a starter. A rim protector. A rebounding machine. At 21, he’s playing like someone who’s already been through a dozen playoff battles. The Heat’s record improved to 10-6, putting them just half a game behind the Bucks in Group C. But this win? It wasn’t about standings. It was about identity.The Bulls, meanwhile, are staring at a crossroads. Are they a team that can still make noise? Or are they a roster full of talent that can’t find chemistry? The loss to the Heat was the worst of their season — and it came at home. Against a team they were expected to beat.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Heat travel to face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, still chasing the top spot in the NBA Cup. With their offense humming and Ware emerging, they look like a legitimate threat to win the whole tournament. The Bulls? They host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday — a must-win. If they lose, they’re effectively out of contention for the Cup. And if they keep playing like this? The playoffs might be out of reach too.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Kel'el Ware’s performance compare to other rookies this season?
Ware’s 20-point, 14-rebound game is the best single performance by any rookie in the 2025-2026 NBA season. Only two other rookies — the Pistons’ Jalen Duren and the Pacers’ Zach Edey — have posted double-doubles this season, but none have matched Ware’s efficiency (8-of-11 FG) or defensive impact. His 14 rebounds were the most by a Heat rookie since 2018.
Why is the Miami Heat scoring so much more than other teams?
Miami’s offense is built on pace, spacing, and unselfishness. They average 31.2 assists per game — second in the league — and shoot 41% from three, the highest in the NBA. Their motion offense, orchestrated by Spoelstra, forces defenses to rotate constantly, creating open looks. No other team has four players averaging 15+ points and five averaging 8+.
What does this loss mean for the Chicago Bulls’ playoff chances?
The Bulls are now 8-7, sitting at fifth in the East — barely above the cutoff line. With the Pistons (13-2) and Cavaliers (11-6) pulling away, Chicago needs to win at least 7 of their next 10 just to stay in the conversation. Their defense ranks 24th in the league, and their bench scoring is dead last among playoff contenders. This loss exposed a team that’s more talented than cohesive.
How unusual is it for a team to score 140+ points four times in one season?
Extremely rare. Before this season, the Heat had only hit 140+ points four times in their entire 38-year history — across seven seasons. This season alone, they’ve done it four times in just 16 games. Only the 2018-19 Houston Rockets (with 15 such games) and the 2021-22 Denver Nuggets (11) have matched that pace in the modern era. Miami’s offensive explosion is historic.
What was the significance of Kevin Huerter’s ejection?
Huerter’s ejection wasn’t just about a technical foul — it was a breakdown in discipline. He was one of Chicago’s few consistent perimeter defenders. Losing him in the third quarter, with the game already slipping away, removed any chance of a comeback. It also signaled to the bench that morale was crumbling. The Bulls have had three ejections this season — more than any other team in the East.
Where does this game rank among Miami Heat’s biggest wins in recent years?
This 36-point win is the Heat’s largest margin of victory since they beat the Pelicans by 41 in February 2023. It’s the biggest road win in franchise history against the Bulls, surpassing a 31-point win in 2019. And given the context — the NBA Cup, Chicago’s home crowd, and Miami’s offensive explosion — it may go down as the most complete performance of the Spoelstra era.
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