{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Chicago 89, Miami 78
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 9, 2015
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
Officials: #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #8 Marc Davis, #60 James Williams
Attendance: 19641

MIAMI -- The Chicago Bulls used a second-half surge to erase a 19-point halftime deficit amd rally for a 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 for the moment after falling into a tie with the Toronto Raptors following Wednesday's loss to the Orlando Magic.

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.

Bulls guard Derrick Rose, in his second game back from arthroscopic knee surgery, scored 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field in 21 minutes. 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.

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

Heat guard Dwyane Wade was 4 of 20 from the field and finished with nine points.

Center Hassan Whiteside, after posting a triple-double the last time the Heat and Bulls squared off in January, registered 17 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 11 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 in the second quarter.

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.
Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Miami
Pau Gasol 16 Scoring Hassan Whiteside 19
Joakim Noah 4 Assists Luol Deng 4
Pau Gasol 15 Rebounds Hassan Whiteside 16
Nikola Mirotic 3 Free Throws Made Luol Deng 2
Mike Dunleavy 4 Steals Luol Deng 2
Pau Gasol 1 Blocks Chris Andersen 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Chicago 89 38.5 6-23 13-17 17 51 2 10 11
Miami 78 38.6 5-18 5-7 14 46 7 2 14
Upcoming Games
  • Miami will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Heat have a W/L % of .306 after a win and .558 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Bulls have a W/L % of .522 after a win and .697 after a loss.