The Chicago Bulls needed C.J. Watson's three with 2.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter to push their Thursday night showdown with the Miami Heat to overtime. They didn't need a whole lot to win in the extra period: the Bulls held Miami to just two points in overtime in a 96-86 win.
Chicago opened the overtime period with five points in the first 44 seconds, and held the Heat scoreless from the field. Five Bulls scored in double figures, led by Carlos Boozer's 19 points, and that depth more than made up for possibly Derrick Rose's worst game as a professional, in which he scored a career-low two points on 1-for-13 shooting and dished eight assists.
LeBron James had 30 points to lead all scorers, and added six rebounds and five assists, but he also missed a free throw late in the fourth quarter that could have extended the Heat's lead to four points. And while Dwyane Wade had 20 points, and Chris Bosh had 21, no other Heat player had more than four.
The win gives the Bulls a four-game advantage on the Heat in the race for home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
For more on the two teams, head over to Chicago Bulls blog Blog a Bull and Miami Heat blog Peninsula is Mightier.