MIAMI (Reuters) - Carlos Boozer scored 27 points as the Chicago Bulls pulled off a 96-89 win over the NBA champion Miami Heat in South Florida on Friday.

Although LeBron James scored 30 points, the Heat trailed from the first quarter as Chicago improved to 18-13 in the Eastern Conference.

Miami lead the East with a 22-9 record but have now lost three of their last four games.

James went into the game with doubts over a knee injury but still played more than 41 minutes.

(Reporting By Simon Evans; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)