Bulls charge past Heat, into Finals

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Scottie Pippen watches from the bench Wednesday.

Pippen sprained his left foot and played only seven minutes Wednesday as the Chicago Bulls beat the Miami Heat 100-87 and clinched a berth in the Finals.

The championship round could begin as early as Sunday.

"The X-rays were negative," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. "There was a spot that was tender and Scottie said he felt better as the night went on. Right now we have no idea if he will be able to play on Sunday if there is a Game 1."

Pippen, however, indicated it would take a lot to keep him on the sideline for the beginning of the Finals.

"I'm fine. I feel very good," Pippen said. "I could have played if they needed me, but the doctors wanted me to hold back.

"No matter what the MRI says, I'm looking to win four more games."

Pippen appeared to come down awkwardly on his foot as he was driving for a shot with 5:02 left in the first quarter. He made two free throws after being fouled and left the game soon thereafter.

"I took the ball to the hole and I felt it," he said of the injury. "I tried to push off and I felt a lot of pain. I knew at that time that I'd hurt it pretty bad. I told (trainer) Chip Schaefer I wasn't sure if I could run.

Pippen said he received treatment on his foot before the game.

"It's an injury I kind of had leading into the game," Pippen said. "I didn't think it was any big deal. I had some pain at the bottom of my foot."