CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose scored 26 points and Luol Deng added 20, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Miami Heat 93-89 on Thursday night in a wild showdown between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams.
In a game that could have playoff seeding implications, the Bulls used a big third quarter to turn a nine-point halftime deficit into a 71-67 advantage, then watched a nine-point lead in the fourth evaporate into a four-point hole before pulling it out.
Deng's 3-pointer with 16 seconds left broke an 89-all tie and sent Chicago to its 16th win in 21 games.
Dwyane Wade scored 34 points and LeBron James (shown in dejected mood in above photo) added 29 for Miami, which got outrebounded 53-39 while losing for only the second time in 13 games. Both losses have come against teams also vying for the East's top seed -- Boston beat them on Feb. 13, and the Bulls now own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Bulls beat Miami by three at the United Center last month, and this one was every bit as dramatic.
Rose and Deng led the charge in the third with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Chicago outscored Miami 27-14, and the Bulls continued to pour it on early in the fourth.
The crowd was really rocking when Ronnie Brewer nailed a jumper to make it 80-71 with 8:26 left, but the Heat weren't finished.
They answered by reeling off 13 straight points, with Mario Chalmers nailing a 3 and James hitting two free throws to put Miami ahead 84-80 with 4:52 remaining.
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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/bulls-hang-on-to-cool-down-heat/
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