Bulls Just Can’t Take the Heat in Miami, 113-104

The Heat figured to be in deep trouble at Miami Friday night. They had traded away three starters the day before. They were down to eight players in uniform. And they were facing the Chicago Bulls, a team on a pace to become the NBA’s first 70-game winner.

No matter.

Led by Rex Chapman, who tied his career high with 39 points, including nine three-pointers in 10 attempts, the Heat stunned the Bulls, 113-104.

Miami’s 15 three-pointers tied a team record.

Riley made deals with three teams shortly before the NBA trading deadline, acquiring Tony Smith, Tim Hardaway, Walt Williams, Tyrone Corbin and Chris Gatling.

Only Smith arrived in time for the game, and he scored 16 points.

“It’s an amazing game,” Heat Coach Pat Riley said. “There are a lot of ups and downs, but tonight had to be one of the great ups.”

Michael Jordan scored 31 points for the Bulls, whose seven-game winning streak ended, leaving the club 48-6.

Orlando 115, Milwaukee 102--Foul-plagued Shaquille O’Neal scored only 17 points in limited duty at Milwaukee, but Anfernee Hardaway took up the slack with 19 points as the Magic won its sixth consecutive game since the All-Star break.

Vin Baker led the Bucks with 25 points.

Atlanta 108, New York 97--Christian Laettner, acquired Thursday in a four-player trade with Minnesota, immediately made an impact with the Hawks at New York, scoring 12 points and collecting seven rebounds in 24 minutes.

Stacey Augmon, starting in place of Steve Smith (twisted ankle), led Atlanta with 24 points.

The Knicks, playing without Patrick Ewing (sprained ankle), got 26 points from John Starks.

Minnesota 94, Detroit 93--Isaiah Rider scored 26 points, including the game-winning free throw with four-tenths of a second left to play at Minneapolis.

Tom Gugliotta had 13 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

Grant Hill had 22 points and 13 assists and Allan Houston scored 24 points for the Pistons, who battled back from a 20-point, first-half deficit.

Phoenix 110, Toronto 105--Wesley Person scored 25 points and Elliot Perry 20 at Phoenix to lead the Suns to a victory that allowed them to reach .500 for the first time since Dec. 29.

Damon Stoudamire had 29 points and 10 assists to give him his 25th double-double of the season for the Raptors.

Charlotte 100, Washington 94--Kenny Anderson scored 22 points at Landover, Md., leading the Hornets to their fifth consecutive victory.

For the Bullets, the losing continues. Washington has dropped three in a row, nine of ten, four in a row at USAir Arena and 12 of 16 to the Hornets.

Indiana 102, Philadelphia 95--Reserve Antonio Davis grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and scored 12 points at Indianapolis to help send the Sixers to their sixth consecutive loss.

San Antonio 112, Sacramento 105--David Robinson scored 34 points at Sacramento as the Kings lost their ninth in a row.

Mitch Richmond and Olden Polynice each scored 23 points for the Kings.