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Gordon's 40-point outburst carries Bulls past Heat

Dec 28, 2006 - 7:07 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Reserve Ben Gordon took full advantage of the shorthanded Miami Heat.

Gordon scored a career-high 40 points and Andres Nocioni added 16 as the Chicago Bulls posted a 109-103 triumph over the Heat, who lost All-Star Dwyane Wade to injury.

Gordon, who has been coming off the bench since November 14, made 11-of-17 shots from the floor and sank 17-of-19 free throws. He surpassed his previous high of 39 points set at Phoenix on February 4.

"I just tried to be aggressive," Gordon said. "I got to the line a lot and we needed every point because it was a tight game."

"Ben generally does a nice job of sensing when he is needed in big games," Chicago coach Scoot Skiles said. "He is not afraid out there and he saved the game for us."

Gordon became the first Bull to score 40 points since the 1999-2000 campaign.

Wade left the game with six minutes remaining in the first quarter with a sprained right wrist. X-rays were negative, but he did not return and is listed as day-to-day. The Chicago native will have an MRI on Thursday.

"He will get a MRI," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We will compare some X-rays Dwyane has had in the past with the ones that were taken."

The Heat trailed by as many as 20 points before rallying an 87-85 advantage on Jason Williams' 3-pointer with just under eight minutes to go.

Williams' 16-footer with 1:25 remaining helped the Heat take a 100-99 advantage. However, Gordon netted eight of the Bulls' final 10 points, including a three-point play on the ensuing possession.

Rookie Tyrus Thomas scored 10 points and Ben Wallace chipped in nine and 11 rebounds for Chicago, which shot 48 percent (39-of-81) and won its fifth straight home game.

Williams scored a season-high 28 points and Jason Kapono added 18 for the Heat, who shot 45 percent (39-of-85).

Miami is already without superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, who still is sidelined with torn cartilage in his knee.

In the fourth quarter, Heat forward James Posey was ejected with 7:16 left for a flagrant foul on Luol Deng. Posey was suspended for one game after running into Kirk Hinrich in the opening round of the playoffs last season.

"It was what it was, it should have been that call," Riley said. "There was no intent except to block the shot. I know he (Posey) went after the ball. As long as you go after the ball you are Ok; he didn't go after his head."

"I don't know, I don't want to say anything bad," said Deng, who had eight points and 11 rebounds. "I don't know what Posey was doing, if he was making a play. I have to watch the replay and see what he was doing."