CHICAGO, March 26 (UPI) -- Jalen Rose scored 19 points and Jamal Crawford added 17 Wednesday night as the Chicago Bulls plodded their way to an 82-74 victory over the Miami Heat.
Chicago posted its fourth straight win at home and improved to 23-12 at the United Center this season. The Bulls are just 3-34 on the road.
The defeat gave Miami coach Pat Riley the first 50-loss season of his career. The Heat reached the dubious mark for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign, the year before Riley took over.
Chicago took control late in the first quarter and led by as many as 16 points in the second period before settling for a 53-41 edge at intermission.
Rookie Caron Butler scored 16 points for the Heat, who shot just 29.5 percent from the field.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second half as Miami scored 33 points and Chicago just 29.
