Good thought, bad execution.

The Sixers started running and scoring early, and Chicago remained stuck in retreat mode. The result: a 121-99 pasting of the Bulls before 18,620 at the Wachovia Center.

The Sixers (37-35) ran to a 30-2 edge in fastbreak points as they continued their torrid stretch, which is going into its eighth week.

Remember during the preseason, when there were some who predicted that the Bulls could reach the Eastern Conference finals? The Sixers generated considerably lower expectations.

Now look at the two franchises. Chicago is 28-43 and the only thing the Bulls lead the NBA in is bickering.

The Sixers, meanwhile, have won three in a row, 11 of their last 13 and 19 of their last 24, moving closer and closer to qualifying for the NBA's postseason.

After Cleveland's loss to New Orleans last night, the Sixers trail the fourth-place Cavaliers by three games with 10 to go. The fourth-place team gets home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

This one was over early. The Bulls, who won Tuesday over Atlanta at home, looked like a tired and dispirited team.

The Sixers, on the other hand, alleviated any fears that would come out flat after Monday's stunning 95-90 win in Boston. Instead, they played the first quarter as if it were a continuation of Monday's fourth period, when they outscored the Celtics, 29-19.

The Sixers vaulted to a 34-19 advantage over the Bulls after the first quarter, owning a 14-0 edge in fastbreak points.

"They really came out in the first quarter and ran away with it," Boylan said.

As usual, the ringleader was Andre Miller, who set a Wachovia Center record with 18 assists. The old mark was 16, held by Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams.

"These guys can get up and down, and it makes my job easier to throw the ball ahead and let them make the play," Miller said.

According to Miller, this was the Sixers' most impressive display of transition basketball this year.

"The first half especially, getting off to a quick start, we had a lot of easy fastbreak points," Miller said, referring to the Sixers' 22-0 lead in points off the break at halftime. "It was definitely a game where we took advantage of them playing a back-to-back."

In the second half, the closest Chicago got was within eight points.

Lou Williams came off the bench to score 23 points, while Andre Iguodala added 21 and Thaddeus Young scored 20 in a reserve role. The only negative was Iguodala's continued struggles from the foul line: He hit just 3 of 9 free throws and is now 11 for 24 in his last two games.

Iguodala says it's just mental, and he expects to snap out of it. The Bulls could only wish it were that easy for them. Thabo Sefolosha led Chicago with 20 points.

In addition to their fastbreak success, the Sixers scored from beyond the arc. They hit 11 of 25 three-point attempts. Williams was 5 of 6 and Rodney Carney was 4 of 7.

When shots are falling from afar and on the break, it usually spells a long night for the opponent. Asked how comfortable he was with the Sixers hoisting so many treys, coach Maurice Cheeks turned into a comedian.

"Yeah, when they're wide open and we're up 20, no problem," he said. "It's just not the way we play."

The way they play is getting into the open court, and as the Bulls discovered, the Sixers were pretty successful with that style last night.

at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.

Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/deepsixer.