Dragic helps Heat handle Bulls, win sixth straight
CHICAGO -- Guard Goran Dragic scored 26 points and had 11 assists, and the Miami Heat cruised to a 100-88 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Heat center Willie Reed scored 20 points in place of injured teammate Hassan Whiteside. Guard Dion Waiters added 19 points as Miami (17-30) won its sixth game in a row.
Former Heat guard Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 15 points. Forwards Taj Gibson and Paul Zipser added 14 points apiece for Chicago (23-25), which lost its second straight game at home.
The game capped a drama-filled day for the Bulls, who met with coach Fred Hoiberg and general manager Gar Forman for about 40 minutes before the team's morning shootaround. Wade and forward Jimmy Butler each came off the bench as discipline for criticizing teammates two nights earlier. Their remarks prompted guard Rajon Rondo to fire back on social media with comments that indirectly called out Wade and Butler.
Butler checked in 5:07 into the first quarter and finished the game with three points on 1-for-13 shooting. Wade entered 28 seconds later and went on to shoot 6 of 17 from the field.
The relationship between Butler and his coach remains tenuous at best. In the second quarter, Butler removed himself from the game after he was whistled for a foul. Hoiberg did not have a substitute ready, and forward Taj Gibson scrambled to come off the bench to replace Butler.
Miami entered the fourth quarter with a 77-67 advantage. Dragic sprinted down the court for back-to-back layups as the Heat enjoyed a 16-1 run to establish a double-digit lead.
The score was even at 53 at halftime. Zipser finished the first half with 12 points, including a 3-pointer from the left corner that capped a 15-5 run in the second quarter.
Miami built a 33-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. Reed scored a pair of baskets in the low post and added two free throws to fuel an early 12-0 run for Miami.
The Bulls finished the regular season series with a 2-1 edge over the Heat.
NOTES: Bulls G Dwyane Wade and F Jimmy Butler did not start Friday night as punishment for their comments to the media earlier in the week. Wade and Butler said they had no regrets about questioning their teammates' desire to win. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside did not play because of a sprained right ankle. In Whiteside's place, C Willie Reed made his fifth start of the season. ... Bulls G Doug McDermott started in place of Wade for the third time this season. Meanwhile, F Paul Zipser started alongside F Taj Gibson. ... Miami re-signed F Okaro White to a second 10-day contract before Friday's game. The rookie from Florida State earned an extended look after averaging 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in four games. ... G Rajon Rondo said the Bulls fined him for a social-media post that hinted at poor leadership. Rondo came off the bench Friday.