Bulls have just enough to win one for Wade
Dwyane Wade stood at the free-throw line with 13.7 seconds left, a chance to seal victory for the Chicago Bulls, and he heard jeers from his old fans.
The crowd in Miami was probably booing a debatable foul call more than Wade, but it was a strange scenario. On his way into American Airlines Arena on Thursday, Wade got an ovation from Heat employees while surrounded by cameras.
Earlier this week, Wade urged his teammates to bring a little extra when they visited his former home. The Bulls didn't quite accomplish that. They looked gassed at times coming off Wednesday's loss in Atlanta.
But the Bulls found enough fortitude to pull out a 98-95 victory, making Wade's return to Miami a successful one. Wade scored 13 points, but hit just 5 of 17 shots from the field.
After the contest, Wade told a TNT sideline reporter it was one of the "weirdest games I've ever played in." He brought some teammates to his house in the afternoon to play cards and get his mind off the emotions he was feeling. The Chicago native spent 13 years with the Heat before signing with the Bulls as a free agent in July.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 20 points, while center Robin Lopez scored 16 and point guard Rajon Rondo finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Bulls (5-4) trailed most of the night, but finally crawled into the lead early in the fourth quarter and hung on.
Before the game, Wade went to the interview room and talked about his memories of the building.
"From my rookie year on, I've got memories here, every moment, every game," Wade told reporters. "From a standpoint of how everything happened for my career here in 13 years, I wouldn't change it for the world. It was spectacular. When I was a kid, I couldn't have gotten on my knees and ask God for a better pro career and the start and the finish of it. So I'm proud of it."
Most observers never expected Wade to leave Miami and he probably wouldn't have if the Heat gave him a better contract offer last summer. When the Heat's deal came in low, Wade started looking and the Bulls had enough cap room to bring him home.
"It's been joyous, it's been great," Wade said of his return to Chicago. "You make a decision like I made because change is a part of what you want as well. And I was looking forward to a little change, a little different scenery and I have that. And I'm enjoying that."
There was plenty of talk this week about Wade's relationship with Heat president Pat Riley. Wade said he hadn't spoken to Riley at all since making the decision to join the Bulls. Riley said he sent Wade an email Thursday morning, which Wade acknowledged receiving, but hadn't read.
"I was there 13 years. I've seen a lot of video tributes," Wade said Wednesday in Atlanta. "I've seen a lot of players come in and go out and I've seen the way he (Riley has) responded to them. I know if you're not with him, you're against him."
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