|
 The Chicago Bulls used a second-half surge to erase a 19-point
halftime deficit and rally for an 89-78 victory over the Miami Heat
on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Bulls, without Jimmy Butler and on the second night of a
back-to-back, went on a 39-8 run from halftime to the early stages
of the fourth quarter.
Chicago (47-32) moved into sole possession of third place in the
Eastern Conference after falling into a tie with the Toronto Raptors
following Wednesday's loss to the Orlando Magic.
"I think we have to build rhythm," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
"When you get down like that, you try to get it inside 10. Once you
get it inside 10, anything is possible."
The Heat (35-44) are now 1 1/2 games behind the Brooklyn Nets and
Boston Celtics for the seventh and eighth spots in the East playoff
race. Miami has three games remaining on its schedule.
Chicago had five players score in double figures. Forwards Pau Gasol
and Taj Gibson both posted double-doubles. Gasol led the team with
16 points and 15 rebounds and Gibson added 14 points and 12
rebounds.
"You can't say enough about what (Gasol) has done all year in all
aspects -- his approach, his leadership, his offense, his defense,
his rebounding and his passing," said Thibodeau of Gasol, who
recorded his career-high 51st double-double. "He's doing all the
right things and saying all the right things. There are very few of
those guys in this league."
Bulls guard Derrick Rose, in his second game back from arthroscopic
knee surgery, scored 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting in 21 minutes.
"I missed some shots that I normally make, but I think it comes with
just playing," said Rose, who did not play in the fourth quarter. "I
think I attacked the basket a little bit more."
For the Bulls, the final stretch of the year is all about cautiously
getting Rose playoff ready.
"Of course if you think about the playoffs, I want to increase my
minutes," Rose said. "It's out of my hands. I would love to play
them, but if not, I'm going to wait and take my time."
Guards Aaron Brooks and Mike Dunleavy had 14 and 12 points,
respectively, with 10 of Dunleavy's points coming in a third quarter
that saw the Bulls outscore the Heat 33-8.
"I don't have an explanation for how we came out flat in the
beginning of the third quarter," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
"They got enough relief baskets to gain some momentum, and once the
momentum went, we just could not hold the fort down."
Miami shot 25 percent from the field in the second half and scored
27 points after halftime, tied for its lowest output in a half this
season.
[to top of second column] |
Heat guard Dwyane Wade was 4 of 20 from the field and finished with
nine points.
"A lot of us pressed. The offense just stalled," Wade said. "It's
our fault as players. We have to continue to move the ball. We
didn't do that. We took contested shots. I took a lot of them."
Center Hassan Whiteside, after posting a triple-double the last time
the Heat and Bulls squared off in January, registered 19 points and
16 rebounds. Point guard Goran Dragic added 15 points.
Forward Michael Beasley provided an early spark for the Heat,
drilling his first three attempts from 3-point range and five shots
overall while supplying 13 points in a second quarter that saw Miami
outscore Chicago 33-12 and take a 51-32 lead into the half.
Beasley was nonexistent from then on.
The Bulls shot 25.5 percent from the floor in the first half and
only connected on 3 of 24 attempts in the second quarter.
Chicago will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday while the Heat
play the Toronto Raptors at home.
NOTES: Bulls G/F Jimmy Butler missed Thursday night's game with a
left calf injury. He played 37 minutes in Wednesday's loss to the
Orlando Magic. F Tony Snell started in place of Butler, who has
missed 18 games this season. The Bulls have had their ideal starting
lineup together for just 20 games. ... F Michael Beasley returned to
the Heat after not being with the team for Tuesday's win over the
Charlotte Hornets because of an illness. ... Heat G/F Henry Walker
was inactive with a left elbow contusion. ... Bulls coach Tom
Thibodeau said he wants G Derrick Rose to attack the basket more.
Rose, in his first game back Wednesday against the Magic after
missing 20 games recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right
knee, took six of his nine shots from 3-point range.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
