Looks like the Bulls have to wait another couple of days for victory No. 70. They have longer than that to wait to get back at the Miami Heat.
The Heat snapped a brief two-game losing streak with a convincing 102-92 victory over the Bulls here at Miami Arena Wednesday night. Miami (60-20) became the first team in two seasons to beat the Bulls twice.
Now if the Bulls (69-11) are to reach the 70-win mark, it will have to happen in the season-finale Saturday at home against the New York Knicks.
That really isn’t important right now. They now are concerned about a Heat team that has a load of confidence playing the Bulls.
The Heat got the confidence by holding the Bulls to just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter, when it blew the game open with a 17-2 run to take a 48-30 lead on Voshon Lenard’s three-pointer with 3 minutes 33 seconds left in the period.
The Bulls, who were led by Scottie Pippen’s 28 points, shot just 17 percent in the period, scoring a season-low nine points in the period.
The Heat led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter but the Bulls managed to pull within 94-84 with 3:21 to go. But Michael Jordan (26 points) hit just one of three free throws with 3:07 left.
The Bulls got no closer.
“They deserve this victory,” said Bulls coach Phil Jackson. “We just never stepped up in the second quarter and took advantage of situations that presented themselves to us and never took charge of the game.”
He added: “I didn’t think it was a very well played game. We weren’t very sharp but we haven’t really practiced for two weeks. It makes a big difference in how we can attack a game. But that’s all a consequence to the schedule. Their team was sharp. They executed quite well.”
Jamal Mashburn led the Heat with 23 points. “To be able to beat the world champions–and I don’t care what the conditions are–was a great night for us,” said Miami coach Pat Riley.
