Miami edges Bulls on Majerle 3-pointer

Dan Majerle's game-winner beats the Bulls.
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Game flow

CHICAGO -- Dan Majerle drilled a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining to lift the Miami Heat to its 10th win in 11 games, an 83-80 victory over the Chicago Bulls in a Saturday showdown of division leaders.

Michael Jordan tied the score at 80-80 on a jumper with 2:02 to go.

On the ensuing play, Miami's Tim Hardaway received the inbounds pass and penetrated the lane. When the Chicago defense collapsed into the key, Hardaway kicked the ball out to the left wing to Majerle, who hit the jumper from 24 feet.

"It was a great call by Pat Riley," Majerle said of the Miami coach. "He thought their defense would key on Alonzo and Hardaway, and they did.

"Timmy started out with the ball, kicked it back to me and I was wide open. That's how I've made my living in the NBA. If I have an open shot, I'm going to take it."

Alonzo Mourning scored 20 points, Hardaway added 16 points and P.J. Brown had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Miami, which improved to 10-2 on the road and beat Chicago for the second time in the last seven meetings.

"This was a huge game for us," Mourning said. "It proved if you worked hard, good things are going to happen to you. We just outworked the world champions tonight. That's why we won."

Majerle finished with 13 points for the Heat, who maintained their two-game lead over the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division.

Jordan made 16 of 30 shots from the field and scored 37 points. Scottie Pippen was held to 14 and Toni Kukoc had 11 for Central Division-leading Chicago, which had a five-game winning streak snapped.

"We had our chances to win, but we never really got into the flow of it tonight," Jordan said. "We haven't had a game like this all year.

"What it shows is that we have a lot of room for improvement. There are no excuses. We didn't play well and we were the better-rested team. They just had more intensity than us and wanted it more than we did."

"We just can't stand around and watch Michael play," Bulls guard Steve Kerr said. "That's what we did tonight. The bench didn't do anything and when we get into a game like this, there is a chance we'll lose. There was no flow to our game."

Dennis Rodman grabbed 18 rebounds for the Bulls, who lost just two home games all last season.

Mourning made one free throw to give Miami a 76-69 lead midway through the fourth quarter before the Bulls began chipping away. Jordan hit a 19-footer and sank a pair of free throws to ignite a 9-1 run. Kukoc added a 3-pointer and Jordan's 15-footer allowed Chicago to overtake Miami at 78-77 with 3:27 to go.

But Majerle provided a preview of things to come with a 3-pointer for an 80-78 lead with 3:02 to go.