Bulls beat Heat behind Rose with James sitting out

[January 17, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Derrick Rose scored 34 points and Kyle Korver hit a crucial 3-pointer with 25 seconds left Saturday night as the Chicago Bulls withstood a stellar performance by Dwyane Wade to beat the Miami Heat 99-96.

Miami, playing without injured LeBron James for a second straight game, lost its third straight despite a 33-point performance from Chicago native Wade, who had 12 in the fourth quarter, including three straight 3-pointers to give the Heat the lead.

The Heat's Chris Bosh added 17, 11 in the third quarter, but hurt his ankle in the closing second of the period when he went to the floor during a scramble for the ball. He returned to the game in the fourth but played only briefly before leaving the game as Miami forged through the final period without two of its stars.

Rose had 11 in the final quarter as he and Wade matched shots in a wild finish that resembled a playoff game.

Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago. Eddie House scored 13 for the Heat, who had to rely on its bench.

It was a Rose vs. Wade showdown over the final two minutes as two of the NBA's best players matched shots.

Rose drove for a basket, Wade answered with a 3-pointer and then Rose converted a three-point play after hanging in the air for a jumper around Mario Chalmers to put the Bulls up 94-90.

But Wade hit yet another 3-pointer with 1:07 to go and after a Bulls turnover, Wade connected again from long distance and the Heat had a 96-95 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Rose missed from inside but after a missed tip, Korver came up with the loose ball and sank his 3-pointer with 25.5 seconds left to put Chicago ahead 98-96.

After Wade nearly lost the ball in the lane, the Heat retrieved it and Chalmers missed a 3-pointer from the key and Chicago's Ronnie Brewer rebounded with 4.4 seconds to go.

Brewer missed the first and made the second of two free throws before Wade's jumper was off with just under a second left.

Rose sliced through four defenders for a twisting layup to cap a startling 17-0 run opening the second half that gave Bulls a 65-53 lead. He also sank back-to-back 3-pointers early in the quarter and fed Keith Bogans for another as the Bulls appeared ready to run away.

Chicago had trailed by five at the half after blowing a 14-point lead as Wade scored 21 first-half points. But during the 17-point outburst, Wade -- booed loudly by fans in his hometown when introduced -- picked up his third and fourth fouls and suddenly the Heat were without two of their two biggest stars as he joined a gum-chewing James on the bench.

But Bosh, the third of the Heat's Big Three, brought the Heat back with 11 points as Miami rallied to tie it at 67 late in the period.

The Bulls went back up five and when Bosh went to the floor during a scramble for the ball, he stayed on the court grabbing his ankle with 30 seconds left in the third and then finally went to the bench. And with Wade, Bosh and James all on the bench, Chalmers drove for a hoop to cut it to three.

James went through some pregame shooting, even a couple of dunks, to test the ankle but then sat out his second straight game.

The Bulls made their pitch last summer to the two-time MVP and also met with Wade, hoping to lure the Chicago native to return home.

With James out of the lineup, the fans let Wade have it during pregame introductions and continued the loud boos every time he touched the ball early in the game.

James, meanwhile, sat on the end of the Heat bench watching intently and applauding his team's effort without him.

NOTES: To push Rose for the All-Star game, the Bulls put placards with his picture on every seat and left roses on the writer's work table. He is currently running second among Eastern Conference guards in fan balloting.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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