Wednesday should have been a perfect opportunity for the Miami Heat to get back on the right side of .500. The Chicago Bulls came to Miami with the third worst record in the Eastern Conference, on the tail end of a back-to-back and without starting guard Zach LaVine, who suffered an injury in the Bulls’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Instead, the Heat began a three-game homestand with one of its worst losses of the season, a 105-89 defeat at the hands of Chicago in front of 19,600 at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat, which trailed 50-48 at halftime, melted down offensively in the second half and let reserve post player Bobby Portis dominate the fourth quarter to bury Miami for a blowout win.