Bulls Handle the Heat

Finally, another victory for the Chicago Bulls.

Ron Mercer scored eight of his 19 points in the final 2:23 as the Bulls beat the Miami Heat, 78-72, Thursday night at Chicago for their second victory of the season.

It was Chicago’s first win since Nov. 3, ending a 10-game losing streak.

“Pretty for me? Absolutely,� Bulls’ Coach Tim Floyd said. “It was beautiful. It was gorgeous.�

Floyd might have been overreacting, considering the Bulls scored only 10 points in the third quarter on 19% shooting. That’s only four more points than the record-low six they scored in the third period at New Jersey on Tuesday night.

But the Bulls got big baskets when they needed them, and Miami didn’t have many answers after Alonzo Mourning fouled out with 9:35 left.

It was the 10th consecutive loss for the Heat. Miami last lost 10 consecutive games Dec. 1-21, 1990.

“I don’t know what the heck to say,� said Eddie Jones, who led Miami with 15 points.

Trenton Hassell added 13 points for the Bulls, and Greg Anthony had a superb defensive game, finishing with six steals, one off his career high, and five assists with no turnovers. Charles Oakley had 10 rebounds and a couple of key stops in the final minutes.

Mourning and Rod Strickland added 13 points apiece for Miami, which gave up 22 points on 21 turnovers.

“I’ve never lost 10 games in a row at any level,� Mourning said. “This is new to me. But I’m not going to succumb to disappointment or be sorry for myself. I’m going to look at this as a challenge.�

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Atlanta 105, Cleveland 96--Toni Kukoc scored a season-high 24 points, Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 19 at Cleveland and the Hawks won for only the second time on the road this season.

Kukoc and Jacque Vaughn rallied the Hawks from a 13-point deficit in the first half and Atlanta held off a late rally by Cleveland to improve to 2-9 on the road.

Nazr Mohammed added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Emanual Davis had 15 points, including a key three-point basket with 3:52 left that gave the Hawks a 97-91 lead and put away the Cavaliers.

Lamond Murray scored 19 points, Wes Person had 18 and Jumaine Jones had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland.

Atlanta’s reserves outscored Cleveland’s, 43-14.

Toronto 91, Memphis 88--Vince Carter scored 23 points and Antonio Davis added 20, leading the Raptors past the Grizzlies at Toronto.

Carter added eight rebounds and seven assists for the Raptors, who extended their winning streak to three games. Pau Gasol scored 22 points, and Shane Battier added 20 for the Grizzlies.

Boston 99, Orlando 89--Antoine Walker scored 33 points and Paul Pierce added 26 as the Celtics extended the Magic’s home losing streak to three games.

Pierce finished with a season-high 12 rebounds. Walker had 11.

Kenny Anderson had 13 points and eight assists, and Eric Williams came off the bench to score 11 for Boston.

Tracy McGrady scored 22 points for the Magic. Mike Miller added 16 points, and Pat Garrity had 13.

Orlando was without Grant Hill, who missed his second game because of a sore left foot.

Sacramento 110, Dallas 98--Peja Stojakovic scored 17 of his 32 points in the first quarter at Dallas, and the Kings’ ended the Mavericks’ four-game winning streak.

Hedo Turkoglu had 17 points in a reserve role for Sacramento, while Bobby Jackson had 16. Scot Pollard had 17 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 11 rebounds for Dallas.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley told HBO’s “Real Sports� that he’s considering a return with Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards. Barkley, who abandoned a possible comeback alongside Jordan in July, said he has started a fitness program and is down to 290 pounds. “I’m thinking about it,� Barkley said. “I miss playing. I feel bad that Michael is struggling and I think I could help him, but I need to lose another 25 pounds before I could help him.� ... Michael Doleac has a stress fracture in his foot, making him the third Cleveland Cavalier center in the last year to have a broken bone in his left foot. Doleac missed his fourth consecutive game and he said he would be out even longer. ... Chicago Bull rookie Tyson Chandler, the second overall pick in the draft from Compton Dominguez High, missed Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat after spraining his ankle in warmups.