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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Eddie Jones and Tim Hardaway came through when the
Miami Heat needed them most.
|  | | Anthony Mason had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help Miami defeat Chicago. |
Jones scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and
Hardaway's only two baskets came down the stretch as Miami handed
the Chicago Bulls their fourth straight loss, 90-81 Sunday night.
"I'm the guy who's supposed to put points on the board," said
Jones, who went 4-for-6 from the field in the final quarter. "When
I'm not playing well, the team is not playing well. I enjoy the
challenge when coach (Pat) Riley tries to get me going."
Trailing by seven points early in the fourth quarter, the Heat
went on a 20-4 run -- including 12 straight points at one juncture.
Miami outscored Chicago 27-13 in the final quarter to pull out a
game that had 14 lead changes.
"We finally got it going defensively at the end and made some
shots at the end," Riley said.
Miami snapped a two-game losing streak, and has won seven
straight home games.
Hardaway was held scoreless for three quarters, but hit two key
3-pointers late. The first gave Miami a lead it never relinquished,
at 76-74 with 7:28 left.
"Coach called my play and I made the shots," said Hardaway,
who handed out a game-high nine assists.
Anthony Mason and Brian Grant each had 19 points for the Heat.
Elton Brand led Chicago with 25 points, while Ron Mercer added
19.
Chicago went on a 10-3 run in the final 3 minutes of the third
quarter and led by seven after Brad Miller's 12-foot jump shot.
Brand had 10 points as Chicago outscored Miami 28-22 in the period.
"The third quarter was our best offensive quarter of the year,
as far as ball movement," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "We were
making the extra pass, we took good shots."
The Heat took a nine-point lead in the first quarter, but the
Bulls pulled into a 20-20 tie at the end of the period.
Miami went into halftime ahead 41-40 on Bruce Bowen's driving
layup with 37 seconds left.
"We're getting much closer," Brand said. "You can't be upset
with efforts like that."
Game notes
Brand averaged 24.7 points and 11.5 rebounds over Chicago's
four games before Sunday. While he matched the point total against
Miami, he had only five rebounds, none on the offensive end. ...
The Heat have won five of their last eight games against the Bulls,
but the franchise is 13-32 overall against Chicago. ... Miami's
last home loss was Dec. 19 against the Lakers, 81-79.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 107
Charlotte 99
Portland 103
Detroit 96
Miami 90
Chicago 81
Seattle 106
Phoenix 87
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