MIAMI – Perhaps it was the return of Davion Mitchell. Perhaps it was the humiliation of falling 18 hours earlier to a team that scheduled it as a day of rest. Or perhaps there is rekindled hope of the move into February leading to a move out of nearly permanent residence in the play-in bracket.

Looking far more cohesive and connected than in either of the previous two games in this unusual three-game head-to-head series, the Miami Heat made quick work of the Chicago Bulls Sunday night at Kaseya Center in a 134-91 victory, tying for the third-most-lopsided victory in the Heat’s 38 seasons.

This was not having to survive a potential game-tying 3-pointer in Thursday night’s three-point victory over the Bulls at the United Center. This was not lacking answers in Saturday night’s humbling seven-point loss to a Bulls team that rested its regulars.

This was more to what coach Erik Spoelstra has stressed what could come from this middling season that has the Heat at 27-24 with one game remaining before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trading deadline.

“The one thing I told our group is that we definitely have something,” Spoelstra said afterward. “We have some toughness and guys really care and they want to. It was a good response.”

There was an initial push to a 22-5 lead, the type of third-quarter resolve that previously had been lacking, and Mitchell back to settle things on both ends.

So with 20 points apiece, Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson were able to sit out the fourth quarter, with Mitchell returning with 13 points and six assists in his 27 minutes.

“We played the right way and it was great to see,” Spoelstra said. “We know what we need to work on. We need to work on our consistency and we’ll continue to forge ahead until we get there.”

The Heat again were without Tyler Herro (ribs) and Norman Powell (personal reasons), with Nikola Jovic (hip) also out.

The Bulls remained without Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Jalen Smith (calf), with Kevin Huerter (back) also out.

“For us,” Adebayo said, “it’s jut how can we sustain this type of how we are playing? After we lose, we normally respond like that.”

Five degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:

— Game flow: The Heat led 34-13 after the first quarter, the most the Heat have outscored an opponent by in an opening quarter this season. For the Bulls, it was their lowest-scoring quarter of the season, one that featured 4-of-21 shooting and seven turnovers by Chicago.

The Heat then moved up 27 in the second period, as the Bull fell to 1 of 18 on 3-pointers, with a 62-40 lead at halftime.

And this time, no letdown in the third period, with the Heat instead moving to a 101-62 lead entering the fourth quarter, affording the primary rotation players time off at the end of the run of four games in five nights.

“We just want to keep the momentum going,” forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said after his 14-point performance. “I think everyone’s here, you know, tired of being sick and tired. And I think that’s kind of the mentality that we had going into this game.”

— Mitchell returns: Mitchell was back in the mix after missing the previous six games, and eight of the previous 10, with a shoulder sprain.

“D-Mitch brings us that pace,” Spoelstra said. “There’s something about the way he pushes the ball and delivers it.”

Mitchell’s return had first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis again playing off the bench, after starting the previous six games.

There nonetheless still was a twist with the starting lineup, with Simone Fontecchio getting his second start of the season. That left the Heat with their 16th starting lineup, with the opening unit with Mitchell and Fontecchio rounded out by Adebayo, Larsson and Andrew Wiggins.

“I’m feel good, kind of was tired after that first wind,” Mitchell said of his return. “After that first wind I was good.

“I tried to go out there and just be aggressive.”

— Larsson sizzles: Shifted from starting forward to starting guard, Larsson came out firing, with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

That came a night after Larsson scored a career-high 22 points.

Larsson now has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, this time closing at 8 of 11 from the field, with four rebounds and four assists.

“It was very important just for our own heads,” Larsson said of the bounceback victory. “I think just to show that to ourselves that that wasn’t us yesterday and in the future trying to limit those performances.”

Larsson said there was no specific story behind the back-to-back 20-point performances.

“Just got good looks and made them,” Larsson said. “That’s kind of our offense. Sometimes you’re gonna get some good looks and just gotta be ready to shoot.”

— Ware’s world: A night after playing 3:11 in Saturday’s loss, Kel’el Ware this time played as the primary backup big man, with Jovic sidelined by a hip impingement sustained in Saturday night’s loss.

This time Ware’s initial stint was 8:45, a run that included four points and four rebounds.

From there, there was ample action and opportunity, as the Bulls emptied their bench.

He closed with 17 points and six rebounds, needed for just 18:24.

“It’s good to have him get some extended minutes tonight,” Spoelstra said.

Spoelstra said he also would work more to make it work with his younger players going forward.

“I want to take that challenge,” he said. “And I want to be better with that,”

— Tiebreaker achieved: With the victory, the Heat won the season series 3-1.

So, yes, potential play-in seeding was at stake.

“What we do have is an opportunity to win the season series,” Spoelstra said pregame. “When you have an opportunity like that, you want to take it.”

The Heat and Bulls have met in the pre-playoff round for conference seeds Nos. 7-10 in each of the past three seasons.

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