Rivalry between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls are rising with a physical game between the two top Eastern Conference teams. Miami beat the Bulls 83-72.
Both the Heat and Bulls secured a playoff berth but the intense matchup gave everyone a taste of what to expect as both are favored to meet again in the NBA Conference Finals.
Without the Chicago's injured star Derrick Rose, Miami's LeBron James and Dwayne Wade took advantage with a combine 45 points. LeBron James finished the game with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. The Heat's Mario Chalmers also chipped in with 16 points and helped his team win 5 straight games and moving 1.5 games behind the Bulls for the top Eastern Conference spot. Chicago could have secured home court advantage in the Eastern Conference throughout the playoffs with a victory.
The Heat was without their other superstar Chris Bosh, who sat out his second consecutive game due to injury. Miami managed to pull out another victory despite being short handed and did so with passion. Both teams played aggressively and combined for 4 technical fouls, 2 flagrant fouls, and an ejection. James Jones was ejected after giving Bulls' player Joakim Noah a flagrant foul.
"A physical Eastern Conference game," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "It's an emotional game, a passionate game."
There were also more physical classes between the Heat's Dwayne Wade and Bulls' Rip Hamilton along with LeBron James and John Lucas, resulting in a crash to the floor.
The Bulls will look to secure their top seed as Miami continues its surge with its 5 game winnings streak and winning 7 of their past 10 games. The Bulls have been 5-5 in their last 10 games.
