Bulls Get Even, Heat Just Mad

The Miami Heat bickered among themselves. Shaquille O’Neal had another rough outing. And the Chicago Bulls took advantage.

Kirk Hinrich scored 21 points and made a three-point shot with 1:09 left, and the Bulls evened the best-of-seven first-round Eastern Conference series at 2-2 with a 93-87 victory Sunday at Chicago.

“The team believes it can win this series, and that’s it,” forward Andres Nocioni said.

With O’Neal in foul trouble, the Bulls built a 13-point lead in the third quarter, only to fall behind in the fourth before prevailing, with Hinrich’s long three-pointer giving them an 88-83 lead with 1:09 left.

Chicago center Tyson Chandler was carried off the court with 26.3 seconds left with what the Bulls said was a moderate to mild right ankle sprain.

Nocioni led the Bulls with 24 points, and Ben Gordon scored 23. Hinrich had nine assists.

Antoine Walker scored 21 for the Heat, and Wade finished with 20 on eight-for-23 shooting. But O’Neal was in foul trouble for the second consecutive game. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and four fouls, and did not talk to reporters.

Heat teammates Gary Payton and Wade shouted at each other late in the first half and continued to go at it during a timeout with 39.8 seconds left in the second quarter. Neither would talk about it afterward.

Walker shrugged off the question, saying, “I don’t know. We messed up a play or something.”

The Heat said more about the disparity in free throws. They were whistled for 31 fouls to the Bulls’ 17. Chicago made 24 of 31 free throws, and the Heat made four of five.

“Thirty-one to five, that’s just enough right there,” Wade said. “I’m not going to say any more.”

Sacramento 102, San Antonio 84 -- Bonzi Wells had 25 points and a playoff-career high 17 rebounds to help the host Kings tie the series at 2-2.

Leading by 11 points, the Kings opened the fourth quarter with a 23-8 run.Tony Parker had 22 points for San Antonio, but Manu Ginobili struggled against Ron Artest, scoring three points.

Washington 106, Cleveland 96 -- After a one-for-nine, six-point first half, Gilbert Arenas scored 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter at Washington to help the Wizards overcome a strong first half by LeBron James to tie the series at 2-2.

James set club playoff records for points in a quarter (18) and half (25), but missed all three of his shots in the third quarter and finished with 38 points.