Derrick Rose vs. Dwayne Wade, a Kyle Korver game-winning three-pointer and two of three "Heatles" injured pretty much sums up Saturday night at the United Center. But that still doesn't do the night justice.
Emotions were high at the United Center as the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat met for the first time this season. The Heat played the villains of the NBA and the Bulls the hometown heroes. Between the cheers and boos there was hardly a quiet moment at the arena on Saturday night when the Bulls beat the Heat 99-96.
The Bulls are hot at home and are now on an eight-game home winning streak. They've also won two of their last three. Without LeBron James the Heat fall to 2-3 on this road trip and are now on a three-game losing streak. It doesn't help that Chris Bosh also limped out of the United Center with a sprained left ankle. He put up 17 points for the Heat before leaving the game at the end of the third quarter.
The talk of Miami is "the Heatles," James; Dwyane Wade and Bosh, and their ability to play together and as a team. But forward James Jones, who started for the injured James, said every player has a role on the team despite having the "big three" playing for them and team play is improving.
"Our chemistry is getting better," Jones said. "Individually we're surrounded by great guys so it's easy to get along and then on the floor, you know, as we go through these adverse times we'll build character and we'll build trust that will help us continue to grow as a team."
He also said the players know one another and every one has to step in to help out with the injured James and now injured Bosh. He said not just one individual can fill what those players bring to the table. But he also said it is a team effort on the court.
"At the end of the day the three of them don't win or lose by themselves," Jones said. "We all do collectively."
It was evident Saturday night that after snubbing Chicago in the off-season, none of the "big three" were welcome at the United Center. Well, the one's who played anyway.
But all the off-court drama and fan reactions didn't seem to matter Saturday night to Wade, who put up 33 points against Rose, who also put up 34 of his own. It seemed the scoring between the two would never end when it came down to the wire.
"Two great players, one great play after the next," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said about the match-up tonight. "They both have the ability to make something out of nothing."
Even teammates had a hard time from "becoming fans" as Korver put it.
"It's very easy to get caught watching," Korver said. "Cause it's very easy to all of a sudden become a fan. Because that was incredible."
Between reverse lay-ups, jump shots and three-pointers it was like they were the only two on the court at the end. That is up until the last play of the game when Korver sunk his game winning three-pointer. But being the talk of the game doesn't matter to him. He's just happy to contribute.
"That's my role," Korver said. "Come in and make those shots and space the floor and things like that. You know ball ends up in your hands you just gotta be ready."
The Bulls did take one hit tonight when Carlos Boozer apparently rolled his left ankle on one of the last plays of the game. The extent of his injury is not known.
The Bulls travel to Memphis on Monday to play the Grizzlies before coming home for a six game home stand.
"I'm ready to be home for a while," Korver said. "...We've been on the road all year it feels like."
