FOULEDOUT!

After a very disappointing season, the Chicago Bulls finally see some light when the team won the draft lottery, giving them the right to pick the best prospect in the upcoming draft.

“After this season, we needed a break and I think we just got one tonight.” said Steve Schanwald, the Bulls’ executive VP of business operations.

The miserable Miami Heat settled for the second pick and the Minnesota Timberwolves will go third. The NBA Draft day is on June 26 in New York.

The Bulls will almost certainly choose between college hoops players Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. Rose played the point for the University of Memphis and carried the team within minutes to the national title against University of Kansas in his freshman year. Beasley is a forward from Kansas State University who averaged 26.5 points and and (NCAA-best) 12.5 rebounds in his freshman year.

The 2008 Draft Order:

1. Chicago Bulls

2. Miami Heat

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

4. Seattle Supersonics

5. Memphis Grizzlies

6. New York Knicks

7. Los Angeles Clippers

8. Milwaukee Bucks

9. Charlotte Bobcats

10. New Jersey Nets

11. Indiana Pacers

12. Sacramento Kings

13. Portland Trailblazers

14. Golden State Warriors

-fouledout

Miami Heat 92

Chicago Bulls 99*

Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion combined for 53 points but still lost to the Chicago Bulls dropping their ninth straight game.

Kirk Hinrich stepped up for the Bulls who are playing without Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Ben Wallace. Hinrich came off the bench and finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He had plenty of help from his teammates. Three Bulls players finished with double-doubles. Joe Smith had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Thabo Sefolosha had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Tyrus Thomas contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds. Andres Nocioni chipped in 18 points.

Only Wade and Marion scored in double figures for the Miami Heat. Wade finished with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assist while Marion had 23 points and 7 rebounds. Jason Williams and Marcus Banks had 9 points apiece for the Heat.

Dallas Mavericks   97

Phoenix Suns    109*

Defending MVP Dirk Nowitzki posted 36 points for the Dallas Mavericks but it wasn’t enough to beat the fiery Phoenix Suns on Valentine’s Day.

Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa had 26 points each for the Suns and Steve Nash finished with 24 points and 13 assists.

Jason Terry scored 29 points for the Mavericks but he and Dirk got little help from their teammates. No other Maverick scored in double digits except for Dirk and Terry. Dallas swingman Eddie Jones had 9 points while Devean George and Brandon Bass each had 7 points.

-fouledout

Ben Gordon had 24 points and Joe Smith put in 23 points as the Chicago Bulls routed the listless Miami Heat 126-96 and spoiled Shaquille O’Neal’s return. Even with Shaq around, the Heat still looked hapless as the Bulls outscored them in the first, third and fourth periods. This is Miami’s 11^th straight loss.
Shaq finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the game but eventually fouled out. Dwayne Wade also finished with 24 points and added 6 assists. Jayson Williams had 17 points and 5 assists while Udonis Haslem chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Heat sank deeper into the standings as the season goes on and they’re campaign is virtually over at this point. They last won on December 22, 104-102 against the Utah Jazz. Alonzo Mourning watched the game from the sidelines.

The Bulls, coming from two tough loses bounced back and played big today. Luol Deng posted 21 points and 8 rebounds while Andres Nocioni had 20 points. Thabo Sefolosha finished with season-high 17 points for the Bulls. Kirk Hinrich missed his second straight game due to back spasms.

The Chicago Bulls are 15-22 in the Central division and the Miami Heat are 8-29 in Southeast.

-fouledout