Heat vs. Bulls: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season
For the second time since he bolted for the Chicago Bulls in free agency, Dwyane Wade squared off against the Miami Heat on Saturday.
And for the second meeting in a row, Wade came out on top.
Exactly one month removed from a three-point win over his former employer in Miami, Wade and the Bulls downed the Heat 105-100 on Saturday night at the United Center to improve to 13-10.
Wade finished with 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting, while Jimmy Butler regained his footing in the scoring column, pouring in 31 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Butler also knocked down 15 of 16 shots from the free-throw line, marking the 14th time this season he's hoisted double-digit attempts from the charity stripe, per the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.
The Heat, who fell to 7-17, were led by 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks from Hassan Whiteside and 21 points and 11 dimes from Goran Dragic.
Butler and Whiteside were at the center of the action throughout the early proceedings, and Butler stood out most after being held in check Thursday evening against the San Antonio Spurs.
Two days after scoring a season-low 13 points, Butler matched that total over the game's first 24 minutes to help keep Chicago's offense in a steady rhythm Saturday.
Whiteside operated as Butler's primary adversary in the scoring department, and he was grooving early with 16 first-half points against a Chicago frontcourt that couldn't handle the 7-footer's size, energy and bounce below the free-throw line.
NBA TV provided highlights from two of the game's standout stars after the Bulls and Heat entered halftime tied at 55-55:
Matched up against his former team, Wade was also in fine form.
Chicago's 2-guard had an attacking mindset against Miami's 14th-ranked defense, per NBA.com, and ESPN.com's Nick Friedell noted he was especially locked in:
Wade broke out his full bag of tricks in the win, and a gorgeous transition step-through that resulted in a ferocious finish at the rim served as a major energy boost for the Bulls during an 18-2 run that allowed Chicago to take control midway through the third quarter:
The Bulls took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Heat 28-20 in the third frame, but Miami refused to go away, even with Whiteside in foul trouble.
The Heat remained within striking distance for the entirety of the fourth quarter as the Bulls failed to reclaim a double-digit edge, but they couldn't string together possessions with consecutive baskets when the game was on the line.
The Heat have now lost five straight, but they could receive some relief with a six-game homestand coming up, which will start Monday against the Washington Wizards.
The Bulls, meanwhile, who have captured back-to-back victories, will be back in action Tuesday, when the Minnesota Timberwolves come to town.
After entering Saturday's game with losses in four of their last six, the Bulls should feel confident they've put their brief woes behind them.
Postgame Reaction
Fox Sports Florida captured video of Whiteside and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra discussing Saturday's loss:
"We got a win. We found a way to win," Wade said, per CSNChciago.com's Vincent Goodwill. "We lost a game like this earlier this year (Lakers). We weren’t playing great and they found a way to beat us. In this league, there’s gonna be some nights where you play amazing and some where you play just well enough to get a win. Never begrudge a win."
Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg also took time to praise Wade's performance.
"I thought he had a lot of pop and good legs, and one dunk he looked like a young 22-year old Dwyane Wade," he said, per Goodwill. "They had good matchups, Dwyane obviously had it going tonight."
