CHICAGO (AP) Jermaine O'Neal scored 24 points as the Miami Heat took to a 30-point halftime lead en route to a 103-74 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Pushing for a better playoff seeding, Miami's third straight victory and ninth in 12 games lifted the Heat into the No. 6 slot in the Eastern Conference, a half game ahead of idle Charlotte.

Elsewhere Thursday, Craig Smith scored a season-high 25 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets 99-93.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Camby added 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Dallas Mavericks 101-89.