Bulls set mark in dubious loss to Heat

Heat hold Bulls to franchise playoff-low 65 points, win Game 4 in blowout and take 3-1 series lead

NBA

RESULTS - MONDAY NIGHT
Miami 88-65 Heat
Miami Heat lead series 3-1
Oklahoma City 97-103 Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies lead series 3-1

MIAMI

The Chicago Bulls opened Game 4 with Carlos Boozer rebounding a missed Marco Belinelli 3-pointer and sticking home a point-blank putback to take a 2-0 lead. It was a pretty good start. It was also the last time they’d hold a lead over the Miami Heat on Monday night.

The Heat ripped off an 11-0 run after that Boozer layup, led by 11 at halftime and opened up a 26-point second-half gulf before finishing off an 88-65 win over an injured, shorthanded and — on one night, at least — utterly hopeless Bulls side in what started (thanks to a post-work crowd arriving late to the comparatively early 6 p.m. local start) and finished (thanks to a painful-to-watch second-half drubbing) as an all-but-lifeless United Center.

LeBron James led the way with 27 points on 9 for 20 shooting, handed out eight assists, grabbed seven rebounds and added two steals to pace the Heat, who took a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Bulls. Miami will have a chance to close the Bulls out at home on Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Chris Bosh followed up his big Game 3 outing with another strong showing, chipping in 14 points on 7 for 10 shooting, six rebounds and four blocks. Bosh controlled the game early, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and making five of his first six shots. He and James (six points in the opening frame) outscored a Chicago team that managed just 15 points on 6 for 22 shooting in the first 12 minutes.

The offensive struggles only got worse as the game progressed. Playing for the sixth straight game without both ailing swingman Luol Deng — who was, oddly and for no apparent reason, listed as active for Game 4 despite literally having trouble keeping down solid food.