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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) -- Toni who?
|  | | Jamal Mashburn had nowhere to go against Will Perdue, left, and Elton Brand. |
Playing their first game without Toni Kukoc, the Chicago Bulls got big nights from Elton Brand and Hersey Hawkins and put together
one of their best defensive efforts of the season Thursday night as
they stunned the Miami Heat 83-76.
"This was a real big win for us for many reasons, including the
mental health of our team," coach Tim Floyd said. "With Toni
gone, we needed to show we could win without him, especially
against a team like Miami."
Brand, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, led the Bulls with
26 points and 10 rebounds. Hawkins, who had only scored in double
figures once in the 13 games since he returned from the injured
list, had 20 points and a season-high nine rebounds.
Chris Carr added a season-high 18, including six during a key stretch in the third quarter.
Chicago, which might actually be a better team defensively
without Kukoc, held the Heat to 41 percent from the floor and their
second-lowest point total of the season. The Bulls also
outrebounded Miami 47-40.
Alonzo Mourning led Miami with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but he
was well below his season average of 22.6 points. Tim Hardaway had
14, and Jamal Mashburn added 12 points.
"It's very devastating when you lose to teams like this,"
Hardaway said. "We feel like we're an elite team, but when you
lose to a team like this, I don't know."
The Heat got within 60-59 with 8:15 left on a layup by Chris
Carter, but Brand made two free throws and Hawkins drilled a short
jumper and a 3-pointer to put the Bulls back up 70-59. After that,
all that was left was the celebrating.
It was the second straight victory over Miami, owner of the
second-best record (31-18) in the Eastern Conference, by the Bulls,
the NBA's worst team (11-38).
"It's not devastating," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "The
Bulls have one of the worst records in the league, but one of the
best defenses."
Defense or no defense, Chicago's already dim fortunes looked
even worse when Kukoc, the team's leading scorer and the last key
piece of the championship dynasty, was traded to Philadelphia on
Wednesday. When he missed 24 games with lingering back spasms
earlier this season, the Bulls went 2-22 and flirted with the NBA
record for futility.
With Kukoc gone for good, would Chicago win another game?
"The confidence level wasn't good, especially at shootaround
with Toni saying his goodbyes," Hawkins admitted. "Walking into
the training room, it was as if somebody died it was so quiet. But
like coach told us, 'You can put your heads down and mail the rest
of the season in or go out there and play like men."'
Chicago looked lost for much of the first quarter, scoring just
two field goals in the last 4:15 as Miami took a 23-16 lead. But
the Bulls opened the second quarter with a 12-3 run, and
back-to-back 3-pointers by Matt Maloney and Hawkins, followed by
Brand's dunk, gave them a 28-26 lead.
Any time the Heat seemed on the verge of pulling away, the Bulls came up with an answer. When P.J. Brown's jumper gave Miami a 44-39 lead, Hawkins responded with a 3-pointer. When Hardaway hit a 3-pointer, Carr scored six straight points to pull Chicago within one at 49-48.
The Bulls took the lead on a three-point play from Brand, and he
and Maloney each made a pair of free throws to give the Bulls a
55-53 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
"It's a huge boost because of the trade," Brand said. "Before
the game, coach came to me personally and said, 'I need a big night
from you. A reporter or someone said we're only going to win two
more games. Let's get one of those tonight.'
"I guess we got one of the two wins."
Game notes
Bulls general manager Jerry Krause's rebuilding plan gets
an endorsement from Riley. "He's doing exactly what he's supposed
to do," said Riley, also the team president. "They had a dynasty
and won six championships, and it got to the point where the thing
began to break apart. When it breaks apart, you have to move
quickly to secure position for the future. He's done a great job of
keeping guys on one-year contracts, keeping the cap low and getting
lottery picks. ... A guy in Orlando is being called a genius for it
and Jerry gets vilified for it." ... Bulls guard John Starks,
acquired from Golden State in the Kukoc trade, is expected to
arrive in Chicago on Friday. ... There were three former Chicago
Public League players on the floor Thursday night: Hawkins,
Mashburn and Hardaway.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 119
Denver 101
Indiana 92
Milwaukee 90
Chicago 83
Miami 76
Dallas 106
Detroit 97
Utah 119
Sacramento 108
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