The Miami Heat suffered a tough loss in a crucial play-in matchup on Wednesday night, falling 119-111 to the Chicago Bulls — a direct rival in the Eastern Conference standings. But despite the setback, there was a major bright spot for Miami: the return of Andrew Wiggins, a player who could become a pivotal postseason asset.
It’s been a frustrating stint for Wiggins in Miami so far, as the forward had missed the previous six games due to a hamstring injury. After Wednesday’s return, he spoke to the media in the locker room and shared his thoughts about getting back on the court. “I felt solid,” Wiggins told The Miami Herald. “If you’re out there on the court, then no complaints. You’ve got to be 100 percent, so I felt good.”
He added that the focus now is on continuing to build toward peak shape for the postseason. “Yeah, I mean, just rehabbing, putting in work, trying to fix the issue — and it feels good being back,” Wiggins said. “The team’s fighting. It’s a big game we lost, but we’ve just got to stay with it and believe in ourselves. The journey is going to be a little harder, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
Wiggins’ game vs the Bulls
Wiggins logged 27 minutes in his return, showing promising flashes of his all-around NBA game. He finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, and added six rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Season stats since arriving in Miami
Since joining the Heat, the 30-year-old forward has been a steady contributor. He’s currently averaging 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. Those numbers not only provide scoring balance alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, but also inject NBA playoff-tested experience into a team looking for an edge in tight postseason matchups.
Spoelstra on Wiggins’ Return
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra gave Wiggins credit for adjusting as the game went on. “He was better in the second half,” Spoelstra said postgame. “And look, it’s not easy being out and then all of a sudden going back in. If this was just a normal NBA game, he probably would’ve had a much better flow.”
Spoelstra also emphasized the intensity of the game, saying it resembled postseason basketball. “This had a playoff feel to it, but I thought in the second half he was getting his legs underneath him. Twenty-seven minutes — we’re fine with that. The trainers feel good about where he’s at. I think he’ll be much better going forward.”