Heat Fall Flat In Overtime- Lose to Bulls 96-86

The Miami Heat lost their 2nd game in a row to the Chicago Bulls despite a game high 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists from LeBron James.


Erik Spoelstra switched his starting lineup once more, sending Ronny Turiaf to the bench and starting Udonis Haslem at center for the first time this season.

Derrick Rose went scoreless in the first half for the first time in his career, on just 0-5 shooting. The Bulls bench carried the load early, outscoring Miami's bench 16-3 and turning a 9 point deficit into a 6 point lead.

The Miami Heat began the 2nd quarter with a lineup that had never played together before, with Lebron James and Dwyane Wade on the bench.

Lebron James and the Heat would go on a 12-0 run to close the half and go in to the break with a 41-36 lead.

Spoelstra was forced to insert Turiaf back in the starting lineup to begin the 3rd quarter, as Haslem was sidelined (Stomach Flu).

The Heat's starters would outplay the Bulls starters again and helped post a 10 point lead in the 3rd quarter.

Kyle Korver would hit back to back shots, including a 3-pointer, to give Chicago a 78-74 lead with 3:26 left in regulation.

Dwyane Wade carried the load down the stretch, scoring 10 straight points for Miami to pull them within 1, with just over a minute remaining.

Lebron James would hit the go ahead 3-pointer late, but missed a possible game clinching jumper and free throw.

Tom Thibodeau benched Derrick Rose for the final 2 possessions and it payed dividends, as backup point guard C.J. Watson hit the game tying 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining.

The Heat got one last chance but Dwyane Wade would miss a corner fadeaway jumper at the buzzer.

The Bulls rallied in overtime, outworking, and outscoring the Heat 9-1 with only one starter, Loul Deng.

Kyle Korver would ice the victory with a long range 3-pointer from the top of the key, giving the Bulls a 96-86 lead with 1:02 left.

Dwyane Wade finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds & 4 assists. Chris Bosh finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds on 8-16 shooting.

Game Notes

• The Bulls outscored Miami in bench points 47-7
• The Bulls 36 1st half points were their 2nd fewest this season
• Last 5 regular season games between Bulls & Heat have been decided by 5 points or less
• Miami's big 3 scored 71 of the teams total 86 points.
• C.J. Watson was an astounding +38 for the game & Rose was -27
• Chicago is now 3 games ahead of Miami in the loss column
• Derrick Rose was 1-13 (7.7%) worst shooting game of his career