MIAMI — Immediate challenge conquered.

Greater challenge ahead.

Pushing past the Chicago Bulls a day after learning team leader Jimmy Butler would be lost for weeks with a knee injury, the reward for the Miami Heat for Friday night’s 112-91 win-or-go-home play-in victory is a first-round matchup against the league-best Boston Celtics.

On a night offense was a struggle at times for both teams, the Heat turned up the defense to essentially salvage their season.

Something more, far more, will be required against the Celtics, with that best-of-seven series opening Sunday at 1 p.m. at TD Garden.

Boston has been idle since closing their regular season a league-best 64-18 last Sunday, 18 games ahead of the Heat in the Eastern Conference standings.

It will be the fourth playoff meeting in the past five seasons, including in the Eastern Conference finals the last two years, with the Heat winning such a matchup last season.

The difference is that the Celtics enter whole, with the Heat not only lacking Butler, but also have been without former Celtics guard Terry Rozier the past six games due to neck spasms,

The Heat also entered the best-of-seven opening round last season as the No. 8 seed, taking down the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on way to the NBA Finals.

Tyler Herro seized control of the Heat offense in the absences of Butler and Rozier, closing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, including several moments of spectacular offense.

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