HEAT wins franchise best 62nd, secure top record in league with win over Chicago
The scorching hot Bobcats snapped Miami's 12-game winning streak and the HEAT had no time to rest, with the 2nd best team in the league in their building the very next night. In a high-scoring affair, the Heat out-battled their conference rivals for a 131-123 win, snapping the Bulls 7-game win streak.
This win marks the HEAT's 62nd win of the season, a new franchise record. (The HEAT won 61 during the 96-97' season) It also means, they have secured a big enough lead for the best record in the league.
The Bulls had trouble very early on, as one of their key players and top defenders Luol Deng picked up two fouls in 56 seconds trying to stop Dwyane Wade. Tayshaun Prince got an extended run and was solid defensively, but the Bulls really missed their third leading scorer.
Wade had 5 rebounds, 3 assists in the first quarter next to his 10 early points, 6 of them coming from the foul line.
Both teams were scoring very well as well as going to the line. The Bulls had 17 fouls shots and the Heat had 15 in the first half. Wade and Rose both scored 16 points the first half.
Wade would go on to score 37, while fellow MVP candidate Derrick Rose had just 2 points the rest of the way. He did contribute, with 11 2nd half assists.
To start the second half, the Heat out-scored the Bulls 12-2 to build an 11-point lead. The Bulls would answer with their own run, 14-4 and the game stayed close.
Dwyane Wade picked up his 4th foul at the mid-point of the third quarter and would sit for the rest of the quarter and during his absence, points were hard to come by. Rudy Gay and Kyrie Irving took charge, with Irving distributed with 5 assists in those 6 minutes and Gay had 12 straight points.
Wade came back in to start the fourth and picked up his 5th foul with just over a minute gone by. Spoelstra wanted to take him out, but Wade wouldn't come to the bench, saying he'll play on. And indeed he did. He scored 15 points the rest of the way, while also defending Derrick Rose, who was held scoreless during the final 12 minutes.
The HEAT closed the game scoring the final 6 points, all from the foul line and a potential preview of the Conference Finals was over. The HEAT won the season series 3-1.
Wade had his foul troubles, but they weren't as bad as Luol Deng had. With 2 early fouls, he sat for the entire first quarter and picked up his third with just 46 seconds gone by in the 2nd. He picked up his fourth with 3 minutes gone by in the third. He was able to finally play and score in the fourth, with all of his 9 points.
The HEAT have 2 games left, Atlanta and Toronto. Whether the starters get those games off, will remain to be seen.
Box Score
MIA (62-18) | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 || 131 ||
CHI (58-21) | 25 | 38 | 28 | 33 || 124 ||
Player of the Game : Dwyane Wade
| 37 PTS | 8 REBS | 11 ASTS | 2 STLS | 1 BLKS | 11-23 FG | 0-2 3 PT FG | 15-15 FT
Chris Bosh : 30 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 12-16 FG, 1-1 3PT, 5-5 FT
Rudy Gay : 29 points, 4 rebounds, 11-20 FG, 6-7 FG
Serge Ibaka : 18 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 steals, 6-13 FG, 6-6 FT
Mario Chalmers : 4 points, 5 assists
Kyrie Irving : 3 points, 9 assists
Carlos Boozer : 41 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 19-31 FG, 3-3 FT
Leo Lai : 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 7-21 FG, 2-10 3PT
Derrick Rose : 18 points, 15 assists, 6-21 FG
Shaquille O'Neal : 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 6-7 FG
Luol Deng : 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4-4 FG
| 64-18 | .780 
| 60-22 | .732 
| 47-35 | .573 
| 46-36 | .561
| 45-37 | .549
| 43-39 | .524
| 42-40 | .512
| 40-42 | .488
| 40-42 | .488
| 39-43 | .476
| 38-44 | .463
| 34-48 | .415
| 32-50 | .390
| 27-55 | .329
| 56-26 | .683
| 53-29 | .646
| 46-36 | .561
| 46-36 | .561
| 44-38 | .537
| 43-39 | .524
| 43-39 | .524
| 41-41 | .500
| 40-42 | .488
| 39-43 | .476
| 36-46 | .439
| 35-47 | .427
| 32-50 | .390
| 27-55 | .329
| 24-58 | .293
9.7 | Lamar Odom
2.0 | Javale McGee 
