Heat at Bulls
The Miami Heat look to defeat Chicago for the sixth time in the past seven meetings when they visit the Bulls on Saturday. The Heat have lost back-to-back contests to start a four-game trip as they face a Chicago squad that has dropped its last nine games.
The Heat dropped a 98-93 decision to the Detroit Pistons on Friday and coach Erik Spoelstra was not happy with the first-half play that saw his team trailing 53-39 at the break. "These games require 48 minutes of absolute effort and focus," Spoelstra told reporters, "and not up-and-down play and inconsistencies." Chicago just completed an 0-5 road trip in which it suffered losses by 37 points to the Golden State Warriors and 30 to the Denver Nuggets. "Obviously, it's tough to keep losing," Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen told reporters. "But no one is going to feel sorry for us, and like I've said before, we've just got to work through it and that's all we can do. But yes, it is frustrating."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS (Sun), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE HEAT (21-22): Miami was a porous 5-of-19 from the free-throw line in Friday's defeat with center Hassan Whiteside missing all eight of his attempts. Shooting guard Dwyane Wade scored 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting - his fifth game of 20 or more this season - but badly missed a potential tying 3-point attempt with 6.3 seconds in what was surely his final game in Detroit. "It was great. I've had so many battles here and the fan base has always been great since Day One," the 37-year-old Wade said afterward. "I always got a lot of love from the standpoint of a lot of guys wishing they drafted me."
ABOUT THE BULLS (10-35): Chicago rookie forward Wendell Carter Jr. is expected to undergo surgery on his left thumb that will sideline him eight to 12 weeks. Carter injured the thumb when he fell during Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and coach Jim Boylen is worried about being without the 6-foot-10 Carter, who is averaging 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 44 games. "Somebody is going to have to step up," Boylen told reporters. "We need physicality. We are desperately seeking more physical play. And maybe our most physical guy now is hurt."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. SG Josh Richardson, who sat out Friday due to illness, scored 27 points as the Heat notched a 103-96 road win over the Bulls on Nov. 23.
2. Markkanen had 27 points and 10 rebounds against Denver for his fifth double-double of the campaign.
3. Miami SF Justise Winslow scored 15 points against Detroit for his 12th straight double-digit performance.