Deng celebrates birthday by leading Bulls back to playoffs

Deng had 17 of those points in the first half, as the Bulls rallied from a 15- point deficit to win their fourth consecutive game. It was also their first victory at Miami since January 18, 2000, ending an 11-game road skid versus the Heat.

"I just fell into a rhythm and I had good looks," Deng said. "I didn’t think twice, I just let it go when I had the shot. I don’t mind coming off the bench. It doesn’t matter."

Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni each added 18 points, while Kirk Hinrich finished with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Bulls, winners in eight of their last nine games. By the end of the regular season, Wednesday night, it’s conceivable for the Bulls to be seeded as high as fifth in the Eastern Conference.

"It’s no secret the last two years we’ve been trying to rebuild," Bulls head coach Scott Skiles said. "For our guys to get in this is a tribute to the way that they have been resilient and stayed with it. We want to move up. There’s an opportunity to move up."

Because the Bulls won, Orlando was officially eliminated from postseason contention. Since Washington beat Cleveland tonight, the Wizards became the final team to clinch a playoff spot in the East, eliminating the Philadelphia 76ers from postseason contention.

Antoine Walker had 22 points for the Heat, who are locked in the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Shaquille O’Neal added 14 points, but Dwyane Wade struggled with just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. Wade had his franchise- record streak of 78 straight games of double figures snapped, as the Heat had a two-game win streak broken.

The Heat scored 12 straight points to extend to a 23-12 lead in the opening quarter. A pair of three-pointers by Walker highlighted the run and the Heat led 35-25 after 12 minutes.

A Michael Doleac jumper moved Miami to a 40-25 cushion in the opening two minutes of the second, but the Bulls responded with a 21-8 run to get within 48-46 following a free throw from Hinrich.

Walker’s three moved the Heat to a 53-48 lead with 3:54 left in the half, but Chicago scored the final 10 points of the period and the first four points of the third.

It quickly became a 10-point game on two Gordon free throws, making the score 67-57 with 9:27 remaining in the quarter. Wade picked up his fourth foul in the period and had to sit for an extended period.

"We got a couple of guys in foul trouble and Coach continued to rest us and let the reserves come in," Wade said. "They played good, but the Bulls really wanted it."

Miami got within 74-70 on a basket from Jason Williams with 4:11 left in the stanza, but the Bulls responded with the next 10 points to pull away for good. Chris Duhon and Gordon ended the spurt with consecutive three-pointers, and the Bulls led 88-74 going into the fourth.

Chicago led by at least nine the rest of the way and cemented the win by scoring the final 14 points.

Doleac ended with 12 points and Derek Anderson scored 10 for Miami.

"They were a step ahead of us because of their effort and their energy and their absolute desperation to make the playoffs," Heat head coach Pat Riley said. "When you get a team with that frame of mind, they are going to be a step ahead of you."

Game Notes

Chicago shot 50.6 percent from the field and outrebounded Miami, 45-35...The Bulls beat Miami for just the third time in the last 17 meetings...Chicago moved to 12-1 when Deng has at least 20 points...This was the most points allowed by Miami this season.