Bulls turn off the Heat

MIAMI -- In many ways, this result is a welcome respite from recent turmoil and a much-needed victory for the Bulls.

But their emphatic 126-96 victory over the hapless Miami Heat on Wednesday should be taken as a learning experience and a critical look in the mirror.

In other words, this is what happens in the NBA when a team plays uninspired defense.

The Bulls got a chance to knock down open shots the way their opponents have done so many times this season. The visitors produced their highest point total this year, shot a season-high 57.3 percent against Miami and were above 60 percent in three of the four quarters.

"It felt real good to be on the other end of that tonight," Ben Gordon said. "The last few games we've been struggling on the defensive end."

"When you're shooting the ball the way we were, it's really a simple, easy game," coach Jim Boylan added. "We shared the ball, got good looks with our ball movement, and the (faster) tempo that we played with is exactly what we needed."

The Bulls had four players score at least 20 points, led by Gordon with 24. Joe Smith hit 9 of 10 shots for 23 points. Gordon and Andres Nocioni combined to hit 8 of 12 attempts from 3-point range.

"They can't guard anyone right now," Miami coach Pat Riley said of his players. "The team didn't quit. It's just bad."

Thabo Sefolosha, starting his second game in place of Kirk Hinrich (back spasms), scored a season-high 17 points and appears to be finding the confidence that mysteriously disappeared early this season. He has hit 10 of 13 shots in the past two games.

Beating Miami is one thing the Bulls (15-22) have managed to do consistently well. Including last season's playoff sweep, the Bulls have won eight of the last nine games against the Heat. Miami (8-29) lost its 11th straight game.

Heat center Shaquille O'Neal returned from eight games off with a hip injury to score 24 points, but he seemed to be a liability on defense and fouled out after 33 minutes of action.

"It's been a tough week for us, a tough road trip," Boylan said. "This is nice for the guys. I think it relieves a little bit of the pressure. But at the same time we can't relax now."

Before the game, the Bulls refuted reports of a locker-room argument the previous night in Orlando, with varying degrees of vehemence.

Witnesses outside the Bulls' locker room told of a commotion inside, and there was widespread talk that Joakim Noah and Ben Wallace had to be separated after Noah complained about teammates laughing on the bench during the blowout loss.

"Go ask Joakim. He's got the best answer for you," Wallace said. "Maybe you all messed it up. Go ask Joakim. I'm not going to talk about it, because I don't have anything to say about it."

"It was just a discussion; just a couple of words passed back and forth between two teammates after a tough loss," Boylan said. "Just like in any other locker room when there's a game that's lost the way we played it.

"There was no argument. I don't know why it was reported that way. A couple of things were said, but there was no confrontation. There was no one going after each other. There were no angry words."

Luol Deng denied that he had to step between his two teammates.

"I'm 100 percent sure I didn't break up anything," he said with a smile. "I'm the guy to pick to break up fights, I guess.

"We were ticked with the way we've been playing. Guys were not in a good mood. But there was no fighting. It wasn't really an argument."

Noah spent little time in the locker room before or after Wednesday's contest, but he went on the radio to say there was "no way" he had a confrontation with Wallace.