|
 Chicago pulled together behind some of the reserves and managed
three straight wins before the attrition got to the team in
back-to-back losses. "You can't really dwell on it or be frustrated
and think about it every day," Bulls center Pau Gasol told
reporters. "We wish certain guys would be back and we wish that
things were a little different, but they're not. So you just got to
go out there and do your best.” Miami is still missing All-Star
forward Chris Bosh (calf) but had more luck than Chicago on the
buyout market when Joe Johnson chose the Heat among a host of
suitors. Johnson made his team debut on Sunday and contributed 12
points in 30 minutes to a 98-81 victory over the Knicks.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, CSN Chicago, FSN Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE BULLS (30-28): All-Star guard Jimmy Butler (knee) is out
indefinitely, joining center Joakim Noah (shoulder) and forward
Nikola Mirotic (abdominal) with long-term injuries, and fellow guard
Derrick Rose (hamstring) missed the last three games. Chicago’s
depleted lineup averaged 91.5 points in losses at Atlanta and to the
Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and Saturday and will play five of
the next eight on the road, where they own an 11-17 record. “Play
together, play within the game, help each other out, play hard
(against) your opponent,” Gasol continued. “And that's how you give
yourself a chance regardless of the level of talent in this league.
And then hopefully we'll get some guys back. Guys that are important
to our team that would help us quite a bit."
[to top of second column] |
ABOUT THE HEAT (33-26): Bosh’s health situation remains unclear, and
Johnson should help fill the gap as a veteran scorer that can knock
down a corner 3-pointer. Johnson went 1-of 3 from beyond the arc in
his debut after buying into Dwyane Wade’s recruiting pitch.
“Whenever I’ve felt the opportunity to reach out to someone and help
our organization be better, I’ve always tried to do that,” Wade told
reporters. “I just want to win. If you can have guys that help you
do that, why not? It was our job to show him that he’s welcome. I
know what I mean to the franchise, so I know a call from me means a
lot.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Heat C Hassan Whiteside is averaging 18.8 points and 16 rebounds
in the last five games.
2. Gasol recorded his seventh career triple-double with 22 points,
16 rebounds and 14 assists on Saturday.
3. The road team has taken each of the last four in the series.
PREDICTION: Heat 98, Bulls 92
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