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 Chicago appeared to be making its way back into the race with wins
in three of four games following a four-game slide but could not
find its way around the depleted Memphis Grizzlies in a 108-92 road
setback on Tuesday. The Grizzlies had dropped six straight before
forcing the fading Bulls into 20 turnovers. The Heat tried to offer
Chicago some help on Tuesday and rolled past the Pistons 107-89
after getting Dwyane Wade (back, neck) back from a two-game absence.
Wade delivered 16 points in 25 minutes and Miami moved within a
half-game of the third-place Atlanta Hawks.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE BULLS (39-39): All-Star Jimmy Butler managed only five
points and Derrick Rose (elbow) went 5-of-15 from the field in his
return from a two-game absence on Tuesday. “(Memphis) was the
absolute aggressors in that game,’’ Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told
reporters following the loss. “It’s very disappointing. Very
disappointing. To throw away an opportunity like this, especially
with Detroit losing tonight. I told the guys, ‘I’ve never quit in my
life, I ain’t quitting on you now.’ We’re going to keep going out
and fighting, try and get these guys right and go with a good effort
in Miami.” Forward Taj Gibson (ribs) missed his fourth straight game
on Tuesday and is not expected to play on Thursday.
[to top of second column] |
ABOUT THE HEAT (45-32): Miami lost at the lowly Los Angeles Lakers
and at Portland in a 1-2 West Coast trip but looked like a different
team in rolling past Detroit upon its return home on Tuesday. “It
was good to be home and good to see us play with a lot more energy
on both ends,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. “I thought
we were more aggressive (Tuesday), had a better disposition. So
we'll take it.” Miami will play three of its final five games on the
road, including stops in Detroit and Boston next week to close the
regular season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls F Nikola Mirotic is averaging 20.2 points in the last five
games and is 23-of-45 from 3-point range in that span.
2. Heat G Josh Richardson is 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in the last
three contests.
3. Miami took each of the previous three meetings this season by an
average of 15 points.
PREDICTION: Heat 109, Bulls 99
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