Miami Heat fans are SLAMMED by Kendrick Perkins for leaving ‘too many’ empty seats for crucial play-in game against the Chicago Bulls… as they are labelled ‘not a great fanbase’

Kendrick Perkins blasted the Miami Heat fan base for not supporting their team during Friday’s crucial play-in game against the Chicago Bulls at home.

During the ESPN broadcast, the retired NBA center expressed his frustration with the number of empty seats at Kaseya Center in what could have been the Heat’s final game of the season.

At halftime, the Heat held a 47-37 lead in a back-and-forth game, prompting Perkins to point out what fans are missing.

“It’s a close game, it’s win or go home,” Perkins said. “I’m just a little disappointed in the Miami Heat fan base. There are too many free seats.’

ESPN commentator Mike Wilbon added, “That’s not a great fan base at all. That has not been the case. They are frontrunners. They are the leaders.’

The Heat won their play-in game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday for a piecemeal crown

The game would have been Miami’s last of the season had they not recorded a 112-91 win

Despite being without Jimmy Butler due to a knee injury, the Heat pulled off a 112–91 win to clinch the final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Butler suffered a knee injury when Kelly Oubre Jr. from Philadelphia fell on top of him during Wednesday’s loss to the 76ers. Butler played on and scored 19 points before having an MRI on Thursday and being ruled out. Without a concrete timeline, the little one moves forward will miss ‘several weeks’ with the MCL injury.

Tyler Herro led Miami in Butler’s absence, just one assist away from a triple-double. In 33 minutes, Herro scored 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Rookie of the Year candidate Jaime Jaquez Jr. recorded 21 points, six rebounds and six dishes, while Bam Adebayo scored 13 points for the night.

The Heat managed to secure the last seed in the East despite not having Jimmy Butler

Butler has been ruled out for “several weeks” after suffering an MCL injury against the 76ers

Tyler Herro was one dish away from a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists

Veteran forward Kevin Love also scored 16 points and seven boards off the bench to push Miami past the Bulls.

Five Chicago players scored in double figures, led by DeMar DeRozan’s 22-point shift in their losing effort. Starters Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu scored 16, 13 and 10, respectively.

Meanwhile, Javonte Green came off the bench and contributed 12 points.

Miami, which went from the play-in to the NBA Finals last season, will face the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.