MIAMI, Florida: The Miami Heat shrugged off the absence of star forward Jimmy Butler to crush the Chicago Bulls, 112-91, in their play-in eliminator on Friday (Saturday in Manila) and earn a clash with the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

It is the second straight season that Miami have earned the eighth-seed spot via the play-in tournament, and they will play the Celtics for the fourth time in the last five postseasons.

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