Chicago Bulls Hang On To Beat Heat

By ESPN

For 13 years, Dwyane Wade made plenty of what the Miami Heat call "winning plays."

He made another one Thursday. And the Heat didn't enjoy this one.

Wade turned a debated foul call into two big free throws with 13.7 seconds remaining, helping the Chicago Bulls hang on for a 98-95 win and ensuring that his return to the arena he called home for 13 seasons would be a winning one.

It was Wade's first time facing the Heat as an opponent, and afterward he seemed more than a little relieved that this was over.

"I can only imagine what he was going through today," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "A lot of emotions coming back here."

Chicago was up 94-92 when Wade got the call that went against Miami's Justise Winslow, a foul along the sideline on an inbounds pass where it appeared that the 12-time All-Star may have embellished a bit for effect.

If he did, it worked.

"If it was last year, he got pushed out of bounds," a smiling Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This year? He's selling it."

Jimmy Butler scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo finished with 16 points and 12 assists for the Bulls. Robin Lopez had 16 for Chicago, and Wade scored 13 on 5 for 17 shooting.

"I thought I'd shoot better, since I've been knowing these rims for a while," Wade said.

But he made the two big free throws when it counted most, and acknowledged afterward that he might have gotten a break.

"I got the vet call," Wade said.

Said Winslow: "I didn't agree with the call. I think that was because of the stage, because of him being back here. I don't think if he was at another venue, another regular game, they would have made that call."

Robin Lopez had 16 points for Chicago, which prevailed in a game that had 14 ties and 19 lead changes. Doug McDermott scored 13 for the Bulls, and Nikola Mirotic added 10.

Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Dion Waiters and Josh Richardson each scored 16 for the Heat, who lost point guard Goran Dragic to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter.

Winslow scored 15 and Tyler Johnson added 14 for Miami.

Richardson tied the game with a 3-pointer with 6:13 remaining, but the Bulls scored the next six points and led the rest of the way. After the game, Wade went over and greeted the wife of Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, then general manager Andy Elisburg before leaving the floor and blowing a kiss to the fans who remained.

"That was the most emotional part of the night for me," Wade said.

Thursday, November 10 Scoreboard

New Orleans 112, Milwaukee 106

Chicago 98, Miami 95

Golden State 125, Denver 101

Los Angeles Lakers 101, Sacramento 91

Friday, November 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Indiana at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Cleveland at Washington, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Utah at Orlando, 6 p.m.

New York at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Los  Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Detroit at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Portland, 9 p.m.

Saturday, November 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Boston at Indiana, 6 p.m.

New York at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Houson, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Utah at Miami, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Denver, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Charlotte at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m.

Orlando at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Phoenix at Golden State, 7 p.m.

Denver at Portland, 8 p.m.