clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NBA scores: Bulls dominate the glass in 96-89 win over Heat

The Bulls outrebounded the Heat by 20 en route to picking up one of their biggest wins of the season and claiming first place in the Central Division.

By Jeff Newman
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls won perhaps their biggest game of the season Friday night, handing the defending-champion Miami Heat only their third home loss of the season, 96-89.

The Bulls dominated the glass, outrebounding the Heat 48-28 thanks largely to Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, who each pulled down 12 boards. Boozer also led the Bulls with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Noah and Nate Robinson each chipped in 13 points, while Kirk Hinrich scored 10 points and dished out eight assists.

The Heat got 30 points from LeBron James, 22 from Dwyane Wade and 14 from Chris Bosh, but no other Miami player scored in double figures.

The win propelled the Bulls into first place in the Central Division, while the Pacers dropped into second following a 94-75 thumping at the hands of the Celtics. The third-place Bucks fell to the Rockets, 115-101, and the fourth-place Pistons scored an upset over the Hawks, 85-84. Kyrie Irving hit a game-winning jumper to propel the last-place Cavaliers over the Bobcats, 106-104.

Elsewhere in the NBA, the Clippers clipped the Lakers, 107-102, the Thunder struck the 76ers 109-85, and the Nets beat the Wizards in double-overtime, 115-113, on a game-winning jumper from Joe Johnson.