|
 The Bulls took full advantage of that category on Sunday
afternoon by dominating the second-chance points 27-6 and posting a
95-88 overtime victory over the Heat at the United Center.
Chicago's final rebounding edge was a modest 47-42. But the Bulls
took control by opening overtime with seven second-chance points
"This is what you play basketball for. I love it," Chicago center
Joakim Noah said. "I'm having a great time, having a blast out
there. Beating Miami, I don't care if it's the regular season, it's
always special."
Miami (43-17) lost its third straight game overall and fell to 1-7
in regular-season games at the United Center since the start of the
2010-11 season, when Miami's Big Three was first assembled and Tom
Thibodeau became head coach of the Bulls.
Noah had a monster game, finishing with 20 points, 12 rebounds,
seven assists and five blocks. He also played cheerleader several
times, encouraging the home fans to make noise. Guard D.J. Augustin
added 22 points, while guard Jimmy Butler finished with 16 points,
11 rebounds and played solid defense on forward LeBron James.
After a loss at Miami on Feb. 23, Noah said that because the Heat
are the NBA's two-time defending champion and have ended the Bulls'
season twice in the playoffs, they "have to hate playing these
guys."
Mission accomplished, apparently.
"We played with a lot of hate today ... a lot of hate," Noah joked.
Guard Dwyane Wade, a Chicago native, led Miami with 25 points. James
finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but hit
just 8 of 23 shots from the field. James did not shoot any free
throws, the first time that has happened in a game since 2009.
The Bulls (35-28) opened overtime with a 9-0 run. First, an
offensive rebound by forward Taj Gibson led to a wide open 3-pointer
from Augustin. Then a rebound by Butler extended a possession that
ended with a Butler jumper. Noah ripped a rebound away from Miami
center Chris Andersen and finished a layin to put the Bulls ahead
93-86.
Noah then blocked a shot by Heat guard Mario Chalmers, which led to
a fast-break opportunity and two free throws by Butler. That put
Chicago ahead 95-86 with 1:33 left and the game was all but over.
"It came down to possessions," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.
"Their second-chance opportunities, they pummeled us. Not only did
they get offensive rebounds, but every single time they got one they
scored. Thirteen (offensive boards), that number isn't totally
outrageous, but the 27 (second-chance points) is."
Chicago trailed by 12 points early in the fourth quarter before
putting together a 13-0 run. Augustin's 3-pointer brought the Bulls
within one, then a steal and two free throws by Butler put the Bulls
ahead 75-74 with 6:34 remaining.
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The lead changed hands several times the rest of the way. The Bulls
took an 84-82 edge when Butler knocked the ball loose from James on
a drive, leading to a fast-break slam by Gibson with 2:08 left.
After the teams exchanged misses, James tied it with a reverse
layup. Miami took an 86-84 lead on two Wade free throws with 29.2
seconds on the clock. A driving scoop by Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich
tied the score and the Heat's chance to win in regulation ended with
Butler stripping the ball from James on a drive to the basket.
"I just dropped the ball," James said. "I give a lot of credit to
Jimmy. He got his hand on the ball. We had a lot of good
opportunities to win the game, we just couldn't finish when it came
down to it."
Miami took control with a 15-0 run late in the second quarter. The
Bulls led 35-28 after a Noah free throw with 5:42 left in the second
quarter. The Heat got its running game going, with fast-break
buckets by center Chris Bosh and Chalmers, along with an alley-oop
dunk from Chalmers to James, surrounding a 3-pointer by guard Norris
Cole.
A jumper by Wade completed the run and gave Miami a 43-35 lead with
27.1 seconds left. Noah's running hook with 2.7 seconds left in the
quarter finally ended Chicago's dry spell and made it a six-point
margin at halftime.
James and Butler were hit with double technical fouls with 3:57 left
in the second quarter. The two players got tangled up under the
Miami basket after Butler's deflection created a turnover. While the
other players headed down court, James and Butler ended up wrestling
on the floor until a referee finally intervened.
"Two competitive people trying to get up and go play basketball,"
Butler said. "Whatever happened, happened. But I don't back down,
let's just put it like that."
Noah was given a technical foul in the third quarter as the teams
headed into a timeout. Noah appeared to say something to Chalmers
just before he got the technical.
NOTES: Miami F LeBron James started Sunday's game without the
protective mask on his face. James started wearing the mask after
suffering a broken nose on Feb. 20 at the Oklahoma City Thunder. He
took it off during Miami's loss Thursday at the San Antonio Spurs.
... James, on why he flew to Cleveland on Saturday night for the
jersey retirement of former teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas: "I played
eight years with Z. There's one constant teammate that I had over
the years; one constant friend I've had over the years." ... Bulls C
Joakim Noah's father, former tennis star Yannick Noah, was at
Sunday's game. ... Teams owning four of the league's five best
records will visit Chicago during its six-game homestand. Following
Miami into the United Center will be San Antonio, the Houston
Rockets and Oklahoma City.
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