Bulls overcome 17-point deficit thanks to a Josh Giddey triple-double

MIAMI – This wasn’t just a casual three-day Florida vacation in early March.

This was a measuring stick for the Bulls.

A way for the organization to throw their mediocrity against the likes of the other Eastern Conference teams stuck in no-man’s land.

Our mundanity against your mundanity.

After surviving the bully-ball tactics in Orlando on Thursday, the Bulls again overcame a more physical team, as well as a 17-point deficit, beating Miami 114-109.

And while there were plenty of slaps on the back to go around, Josh Giddey continued to show a mindset to do whatever it takes to win games, evident by his third triple-double of the season, scoring 26 points, handing out 12 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds.

“I think that’s pretty accurate,” Giddey said of the newfound confident headspace he’s been in the second half. “Guys being out has kind of made us shift lineups around. Being able to guard multiple positions, play multiple positions offensively. Just being versatile and flexible to whatever is out there, so that’s a pretty fair assessment. Confidence is a big thing.”

His coach can feel that.

“I really appreciate him because he can play anywhere,” Billy Donovan said of Giddey. “He’s been trying to do whatever he can to help the team.”

No one in Cleveland, Boston, or New York was losing an ounce of sleep over any of these outcomes, but for Donovan it remained a big deal.

“These games are important,” Donovan said, when asked about facing like teams in the East. “The game against Orlando was a really physical game. I mean there were an enormous amount of free throws taken by both teams.

“I think some of these younger guys need to be thrown into these situations quite honestly, and we’ve talked about it. It’s not just, ‘Hey, go out there and give them minutes.’ There’s got to be a responsibility in impacting and doing things to help us win.”

That’s why it was good to see rookie Matas Buzelis again out there to close a tight game.

Then again, tight games have become a way of life for the Bulls (26-38) lately.

Trailing by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter, Donovan’s crew did what they always seem to do the last few weeks, play rope-a-dope and then pounce when there’s an opening.

With two minutes left, Tre Jones pounced.

The back-up guard stepped in front of an Andrew Wiggins pass and went the distance for the layup and two-point lead. After Tyler Herro tied it up, it was Coby White’s turn, getting the hoop and the harm for the three-point play.

The Heat still had some pride, as Wiggins drove in for the layup to bring his team to within one, 110-109. Then Giddey happened again, as the point guard pulled up from 26 feet and nailed the dagger three to go up four with 16 seconds left.

More proof of how locked in Giddey has been lately.

“I understood the shot clock was winding down and we were in a scramble situation,” Giddey said. “Just trust the work and let it fly, and it went in. It’s not always going to go in but you have to keep staying confident and let it go.”

After Herro missed the three, Miami was forced into the foul game and sent Kevin Huerter to the line, where he split a pair.

One more bad three attempt from the home team with two seconds over and just like that the Heats were measured, weighed and found wanting.

Not bad for a Bulls team that shot just 11-of-42 (26.2%) from three-point range.

“That’s the biggest thing we’ve been trying to talk about all year long, like you’re not going to make shots every night,” Donovan added. “There’s a mental resiliency component of it where, ‘OK, I’ve got to do other things to find a way to win.’ “