Heat rout Bulls in chippy playoff contest

MIAMI (AFP) –

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is knocked down by Nazr Mohammed (L) and Daequan Cook of the Chicago Bulls during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 8, 2013 in Miami, Florida. Miami rebounded from a game one loss to rout Chicago 115-78

Ray Allen scored 21 points as Miami rebounded from a game-one loss to rout Chicago 115-78 on Wednesday, handing the Bulls their most lopsided playoff defeat in franchise history.

LeBron James finished with 19 points and nine assists and Dwyane Wade and Norris Cole each scored 15 points in Wednesday’s chippy National Basketball Association contest that saw Bulls Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson ejected in the second half.

“Our guys came in with a stronger disposition,” said coach Erik Spoelstra after the Heat tied the second-round series at 1-1. “What we talked about was competing at highest level with composure. Our guys are ultra competitive.”

Allen came off the bench to score his 21 points in just 19 minutes of playing time for the Heat, who had six players score in double figures and shot an impressive 60 percent from the field at American Airlines Arena.

Miami bounced back in a big way from a 93-86 game-one loss where they shot just 39 percent from the field.

The injury-plagued Bulls lost their composure at times as they compiled a total of 27 fouls, including a half dozen technicals. Gibson and Noah were ejected early in the fourth quarter.

“They were more aggressive more determined,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We were back on our heels. We got sidetracked and we can’t do that.

“We allowed frustration to carry over to the next play. We can’t get wrapped up in that stuff.”

The Heat dominated at both ends of the court, forcing the Bulls to turn the ball over 19 times.

Marco Belinelli paced Chicago with 13 points and six assists and Noah scored 12 points before being ejected.

LeBron James of the Miami Heat shoots over Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 8, 2013 in Miami, Florida. Ray Allen scored 21 points as Miami rebounded from a game-one loss to rout Chicago 115-78 on Wednesday, handing the Bulls their most lopsided playoff defeat in franchise history.

Game three of this best-of-seven Eastern Conference series is Friday in Chicago.

The game in front of a crowd of 19,817 at the American Airlines Arena included 51 personal fouls, seven technicals and the two ejections.

“Chicago is going to be physical and we are not going to shy away from it,” James said.

The Heat returned to their dominating ways Wednesday against the Bulls team that had snapped Miami’s 27-game win streak earlier in the season.

Heat haven’t been immune from trailing in a playoff series before. Miami fell behind in three different series last year en route to their second NBA championship.

Chicago stole the game one victory with a 10-0 run to close the contest.

“We did a poor job of finishing the other night,” Spoelstra said. “In this game, there was more of a concentration.

“We were able to win tonight and we held our own in the rebound battle. We had much better ball movement and a trust level that different guys could make plays.”

Miami put the game out of reach with a dominant third quarter that was highlighted by an dynamic 11-0 run.

Wade scored a half dozen points during the scoring outburst, which ended with the Heat ahead 75-47 with four minutes to go in the third. They took an 85-56 led into the fourth quarter.

Miami continued to pour it on in the final quarter, recording the first 12 points of the fourth as the Bulls’ frustrations mounted.

Noah and Gibson were ejected for complaining about a foul called on teammate Marquis Teague.

The Bulls have been ravaged by injuries, starting with former league MVP Derrick Rose, who has still not returned from a torn ACL suffered in last season’s playoffs.

Noah limped into these playoffs with plantar fasciitis and Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng both have missed significant time in the post-season.

Hinrich injured his calf and Deng is suffering side effects from a spinal tap to test for meningitis.