In the 3rd quarter, Miami’s big 3 would score 20 of the teams 22 points as Ray Allen was only the other player to score with a running layup. The Heat’s defense picked up holding the Bulls to only 14 points in the 3rd narrowing the lead down to 1 before the final quarter of the game.
Skipping ahead, Chicago’s physical play re-surged when it mattered, held Miami to only 2 team FG’s from Wade before LeBron James finally scored assisted from Chris Bosh for a layup. That would be one of Bron’s only two FG’s for that quarter as the Bulls bullying got in head of James with multiple fouls to basket and even a flagrant foul of his own due to frustration.
Loul Deng who finished 28 total points for the game, would score 12 points in the final quarter to lead the team to victory. With nearly 2-minutes left, the Heat were down by 9-points with their streak ending in sight. They would score 4-quick points in 30 seconds to cut the led to 5-points, before the Bulls would get their eleventh offensive rebound from Carlos Boozer who was fouled extending their lead.
The Heat would score a few more with Bosh hitting a crucial three-pointer to shorten the lead to only four; but the with only 5 seconds left, the game was over as the crowd in United Center would celebrate with the agitated Heat walking off court.
The keys to the Bulls victory came from their offensive rebounding efficiency and physical play on the entire Heat team during the 1st and 4th quarters not allowing any other player outside of the “Big 3” to score double digits. Miami now sees the first loss under their “streak” since February 1st’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. They currently are poised to finish as the overall top seed in the East and could finish with NBA’s best record.
Dwyane Wade, who re-injured his knee last night could use this time rest up and get healthy before the playoffs along with King James finally taking a rest with the two are looking to repeat. The Chicago faithful should be intrigued by this win seeing their team’s reserves playing the best game potentially of the season. We hope Derrick Rose was watching because his talents on the court could help this current constructed Bulls team who’ve in our opinion, played one of their best defensive games of the year.
Chicago’s now a game and a half behind the Brooklyn Nets with the eight seeded Milwaukee Bucks being the only playoff bound team that hasn’t been playing well. The next two weeks should be interesting to see who will make the push at the right time to move up in standings and the Western Conference lower seeds striving to make the playoffs.