AFP/New York
Struggling Washington upset injury-nagged NBA win leader Chicago 87-84 on Monday while the Miami Heat, also without a key star, rallied late behind LeBron James to defeat host New Jersey 101-98.
Miami Heat’s forward LeBron James drives between New Jersey Nets’ guards Gerald Green and Sundiata Gaines (right) to score in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game in Newark, New Jersey on Monday
As a result, the Heat closed the gap on Chicago in the fight for the best overall record in the Eastern Conference and a home-court playoff advantage into the NBA Finals, Miami improving to 43-17 while the Bulls fell to 46-15.
The Heat play host to Chicago tomorrow in what figures to be a critical showdown to decide which of them will be the overall top seed in the East for the playoffs, which begin on April 28.
Chicago played without reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, who missed his 24th game of the lockout-shortened season with a sore right foot, and Britain’s Luol Deng, who has a right rib injury.
Miami was missing star guard Dwyane Wade, who was rested by the Heat, while the Nets lacked star Deron Williams, who was nursing an injured right calf.
At Chicago, a James Singleton dunk gave the Wizards an 82-77 lead with 1:40 remaining but C.J. Watson answered with a jumper for the Bulls. John Wall hit one free throw but Watson sank another jumper to pull Chicago within 83-81.
Two more Wall free throws with 22 seconds remaining gave Washington an 85-81 edge but Watson responded with a 3-pointer with 16 seconds to play to pull Chicago within 85-84 before the Wizards added two Maurice Evans free throws to produce the final margin.
Watson and Richard Hamilton missed 3-point shots in the final five seconds and the Wizards hung on for the upset victory.
