Marion's dunk gives Heat 95-93 win over Bulls

[February 13, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Shawn Marion's dunk with 1.1 seconds left gave the Miami Heat a 95-93 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Dwyane Wade, selected as a starter for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game this weekend in Phoenix, scored 24 points. Wade scored eight points in the fourth quarter and found Marion for the decisive dunk.

Reserve Michael Beasley finished with 21 points for the Heat, who came in as a loser of five out of the last seven games.

Ben Gordon finished with 34 points for Chicago.

With Miami trailing 86-85, Wade led an 8-0 run. Mario Chalmers had a reverse layup to give Miami the lead back, then Marion blocked Derrick Rose's shot and finished with a dunk on the other end. Wade made a jumper, then hit a fadeaway over Rose to give the Heat a 93-86 lead with 1:13 left.

But the Bulls came back by scoring seven consecutive points. Tyrus Thomas' basket got them within 93-90 with 35 seconds left, then Ben Gordon was fouled by Daequan Cook on a 3-point attempt. He hit all three free throws to tie the game at 93 with 6.5 seconds left.

Kirk Hinrich then stole Marion's inbound pass, but the Bulls turned it over when Wade did the same to Thabo Sefolosha's pass with 3.5 seconds left.

The Heat executed this time when Wade found a streaking Marion for an easy dunk.

After trailing by 11 to start the fourth quarter, Chicago came back to take the lead. Gordon had a three-point play with 3:54 left to get the Bulls within 85-84. Then Rose gave the Bulls the lead by blowing by Chalmers.

The Heat led by 13 early in the third quarter, but the Bulls cut into the lead.

Beasley, picked No. 2 in this year's draft after Rose, highlighted the third quarter with 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting. He showed his range by hitting a 3 to give the Heat a 74-60 lead with 1:37 left in the period.

Trailing 76-62, the Bulls cut into the Heat lead in the fourth quarter. Andres Nocioni hit a 3 with 4.3 left in the the third quarter, then Chicago outscored Miami 10-2 to start the fourth period.

The Heat closed the first half by outscoring the Bulls 10-2. Udonis Haslem and Marion had back-to-back dunks, then Wade had a one-handed reverse layup. Marion gave Miami a 50-39 lead at the half with a jumper.

Marion, Haslem, Wade, and Cook all scored eight points in the half for Miami. Gordon led the Bulls with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Notes: Wade stopped Gordon's breakaway layup attempt with a highlight block late in the first quarter. ... Bulls F Drew Gooden missed his 22nd game of the season with a left groin strain.

[Associated Press]

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