The Chicago Bulls won 96-86 in overtime over the struggling Miami Heat as the Bull's star player Derrick Rose sat out the entire extra period.

Miami's loss may be the extended wakeup call for a team realizing that the Bulls are an elite rival in the Eastern Conference. Last night's game had the Heat pulling out all the punches with LeBron James and Chris Bosh combining for  71 points.  Despite the all star performances, the Bulls overcame with their guys off the bench.

"We've got to trust our (bench) guys more, give them a little more confidence, because we're going to need them, said Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade. "No matter what kind of game myself, Chris (Bosh) and 'Bron have, we need our guys to have confidence when they come in, make shots."

Chicago's star player Derrick Rose had one of the worst performances of his career making one basket out of thirteen attempts and showed sluggishness on defense.  Rose's injuries has caused him to miss twenty three games, but his Bulls team maintains NBA's best record at 45-14.

"I'm not worried about my stats or anything," said Rose. "My shots weren't falling. Shots I normally hit, I wasn't hitting. My teammates had my back. I'm happy I have them on my team."

With the loss, Miami now falls three games back to the first place Bulls in the Eastern Conference.  The Heat are hobbling down the stretch with a 5-5 record in its last 10 games, including blowout losses to the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

"It's not perfect," said Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade. "But that's sports. That's this game. I've been here nine years, and no team has ever been perfect. We've all gone through lows, and we just have to correct it."

"That's why Coach is tinkering with the lineup now, to make sure that when we get in the playoffs, he'll know who he wants to put in the rotations," said Wade

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is looking to stop the bleeding with plans to re-evaluate the lineup.

"We're being made to feel uncomfortable right now," said the Heat's head coach. "That's the residual of the last three weeks or so. We all know we have to take a big step forward as a team."

Spoelstra's adjustment to the lineup appears to be stirring up uneasiness with Heat fans with 10 games remaining and the playoffs lurking around the corner.

 

 

Miami Heat's LeBron James (L) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose (L) goes to the basket against Miami Heat's Ronny Turiaf (21) during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Miami Heat's Ronny Turiaf (C) is guarded by Chicago Bulls' Kyle Korver (L) and Taj Gibson during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Miami Heat's LeBron James (L) and Dwyane Wade look on during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Miami Heat's LeBron James (R) looks on during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng goes to the basket against the Miami Heat during second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson (R) and Kyle Korver celebrate a basket against the Miami Heat during overtime in their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose (L) goes to the basket against Miami Heat's Ronny Turiaf during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson dunks the ball over Miami Heat's Chris Bosh (rear) during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.

Miami Heat's LeBron James (L) is fouled by Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, April 12, 2012.