Big Mac-Gate? Knicks Say 'Terri-Bulls'

Chicago Bulls' Ben Wallace, right, blocks a shot by New York Knicks' Malik Rose during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jerry Lai) (Jerry Lai - AP)

CHICAGO -- There was little drama during the game but plenty of it afterward. The Chicago Bulls wasted no time putting away New York, moving a step closer to securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference by handing the Knicks their most lopsided loss of the season, 98-69 on Tuesday night. Then, things got tense.

Nate Robinson, Jerome James and Steve Francis had words with the Bulls' Tyrus Thomas afterward. And James had to be restrained from going after him in the hallway.

"I think they were definitely trying to rub it in," said Eddy Curry, who spent his first four seasons with the Bulls. "But we'll see them next year."

Fans get free Big Macs if the Bulls score 100. Chicago's Chris Duhon acknowledged they were trying to feed spectators but denied trying to run up the score. Thabo Sefolosha missed a 3-pointer with 1:04 left, and Duhon missed two in the final minute. Malik Allen also missed a layup with 10 seconds left.

"We just wanted to do something for the fans," Duhon said. "I don't cook, so I wanted one myself. We certainly didn't mean any disrespect."

The Knicks didn't see it that way, though.

"As a veteran, I have been in the league long enough, and I know when people are trying to run up the score on you," Francis said. "And I told their players, if I was in the game, it would've been something different. If it was a threat or whatever, I'm a veteran. I won't do that to nobody, and I don't expect nobody to try to do that to younger players on my team, so that's what it was."

Second in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls (47-32) lead fifth-place Cleveland by a half-game and Atlantic Division winner Toronto by 1 1/2. Chicago owns the tiebreaker over both teams and has clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bulls still have an outside shot at the No. 1 seed, but one more loss by Chicago or a win by Detroit would clinch it for the Pistons.

"We did well to put that game away early," said Luol Deng, who scored 15 points. "It's a good win. It's important because we want to finish second. Now, we just have to focus on our next opponent."

Ben Gordon scored 23 points, and the Bulls turned 25 turnovers into 30 points.

The Bulls and Cleveland appeared to be in a two-team race for the second seed, with the loser dropping to fifth. But with Toronto on a roll, the third seed is also a possibility.