The 83-81 victory over the Pistons had been secured, thanks to Kirk Hinrich's two free throws with 2.8 seconds left and Luol Deng's adhesive defense on Tayshaun Prince at the buzzer.

The third straight playoff berth had been clinched, a high-water mark of 13 games above .500 had been reached and the Bulls had closed within a half-game of the Cavaliers. A Bulls win in their Saturday showdown with the Cavs would vault them past Cleveland for the lead in the race for the second seed.

"We're beyond that," Hinrich said dismissively. "We expect to make the playoffs. Our plan is to finish the season strong and make a run in the playoffs. It's time for us to do that."

Added Ben Gordon, who passed to Hinrich for his game-winning points: "That's not a big thing for us. We want and need to make it far in the playoffs."

Stephon Marbury started it. Now, Ben Wallace is joining the cause.

Wallace is lending his name to the Starbury Movement, endorsing an affordable line of sneakers and apparel started by the Knicks' star. Wallace will begin wearing the Starbury II basketball shoe Thursday when the Bulls play his former team, the Pistons. And his own sneaker -- Big Ben -- is expected to hit the market in late August or the fall.

Jason Richardson has reportedly been dropping hints that the Warriors infatuation with Monta Ellis will lead the Warriors to trade Richardson after the season.

Richardson is telling friends he's hoping for a trade to the Pistons or Bulls.

After back-to-back losses and a period of sluggish play that has stretched to nine days, Scott Skiles, that noted tyrant and taskmaster, put his Bulls through ? a film session and meeting Wednesday, but no practice.

"We talked about the fatigue," Skiles said. "You do have to defer somewhat to how the guys are feeling and be in communication with the guys to get the most out of everybody.

"I would have loved to have had a practice because there are things we have to work on. But you also can just beat that to death. And right now the guys are voicing they're tired. Hopefully, this can inspire them a little bit, that they can get a good day of rest. We have had a lot of rest lately."

Pau Gasol may not be a member of the Bulls, but that doesn't mean that he didn't want to be when he requested a trade out of Memphis.

"The Bulls are a very good team," said Gasol, addressing Chicago reporters Saturday for the first time since trade talks between John Paxson and Grizzlies general manager Jerry West failed. "They're very talented and have very good options to move forward and become a dominant team in the East.

"I think they're a young team and have the right pieces. I just think they need somebody in there to provide the scoring and control the tempo of the game a little better, especially down the stretch."

Asked if the Bulls were one team he had in mind when he went to Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley about his desire to play for a contender, Gasol said, "absolutely."

Luol Deng two jammed fingers on his shooting hand on Friday, forcing him to leave practice early.

Deng, still holding his jammed fingers awkwardly after practice, said the injury isn't serious and he'll play.

Scott Skiles said before Wednesday's game that rookie forward Tyrus Thomas could begin to start down the stretch.

That move would come at the expense of veteran P.J. Brown, Thomas' closest friend on the Bulls. The two recently spent an off day together in Orlando along with family members.

"I've created a monster," Brown said facetiously. "This young guy is about ready to take over. But that's good. We're going to need him if we're going to make a run."

Ben Wallace and Tyrus Thomas made the Boston Celtics pay for ignoring them.

Wallace had 19 points and 16 rebounds, Thomas scored a career-high 23 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Celtics 95-87 on Tuesday night.

Wallace made nine of a career-high 21 field goal attempts and fell just short of his career best of 22 points.

Most of Boston's attention turned to stopping Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, so Wallace made the most of the opportunities. Gordon only attempted seven shots.

"I like being left open," Wallace said.

"Me and B.G. (Gordon) switched roles. "I had some good looks. When the guards get doubled-teamed or tripled-team we have to help them out any way we can. I was open and trying to take the pressure off Kirk and B.G. tonight."

Looking relieved and relaxed, Malik Allen said he has been cleared to play in Tuesday's home game against Boston after a stress test and echocardiogram performed Monday revealed nothing structurally wrong with his heart.

Allen confirmed a Tribune report that he suffered atrial fibrillation during Thursday night's victory in Orlando.

Several NBA players, including Hakeem Olajuwon and Terry Cummings, have played with the condition, which occurs when the heart's two small upper chambers quiver rather than beat effectively and cause abnormal heart rhythm.

P.J. Brown has spent much of the 2006-2007 season concerned about being traded, something that he will not want to deal with if he plays again next season.

?If I was to come back, I?d probably have to have a no-trade clause,? Brown said. ?That would be the No. 1 priority if I decided to come back.?