Bulls, Heat set to battle in Miami
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03/12/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams battling for playoff spots in the Eastern
Conference square off tonight at Miami's AmericanAirlines Arena, where the
surging Heat continue an important homestand by taking on the slumping Chicago Bulls.
Although only 1 1/2 games separate these clubs in the East standings, the Heat
and Bulls have been going in opposite directions as of late. Miami posted its
fourth win in its last five outings with Wednesday's 108-97 verdict over the
Los Angeles Clippers, while Chicago's current losing streak reached a season-
worst six games in last night's 111-82 defeat at Orlando.
The Bulls' slide has dropped them into ninth place in the conference race,
with the Heat tied with Toronto and Charlotte for the final three postseason
berths at the moment.
Miami has an opportunity to enhance its playoff chances with a six-game home
stretch that began with Wednesday's victory over the Clippers. The Heat have
won their last four tilts as the host, improving to 18-14 at AmericanAirlines
Arena for the season.
"We've been playing better at home," said Miami's Dwyane Wade after
Wednesday's game. "That's what we all wish we would've done all year, but we
can't live in the past."
Wade led the way against Los Angeles with 27 points and eight assists, with
Jermaine O'Neal contributing 19 points and nine rebounds to the win and
Michael Beasley adding 15 points for Miami.
Chicago's losing streak is its longest since a six-gamer from November 14-24,
2006. Injuries have played a large part in the team's recent nose dive, and
the Bulls suffered another significant one when point guard Derrick Rose had
to exit last night's contest after one quarter due to a sprained left wrist.
Rose, averaging a team-best 20.4 points and 5.7 assists per game this season,
could very well join two other key Chicago players on the sidelines tonight.
Luol Deng is expected to miss a second straight night because of a strained
calf, while fellow forward Joakim Noah is out indefinitely with a plantar
fasciitis injury to his left foot.
Deng is second on the team with an average of 18.0 points per game and Noah
leads Chicago in rebounding (11.4 rpg).
Rookie James Johnson led shorthanded Chicago with 13 points in Thursday's
defeat, with Hakim Warrick and Taj Gibson each finishing with 12 points on the
night.
Having Rose potentially unavailable doesn't figure to help the Bulls improve
upon a 12-20 road record for the season. Chicago will be playing the second
test of a critical four-game trip that also includes stops in Memphis and
Dallas.
The Bulls have also lost in four straight visits to Miami, including a 95-87
decision on November 1. Chicago did get a measure of revenge with a 95-91 win
over the Heat in the Windy City on February 6, in which Deng scored 25 points
and Rose netted 24.
Miami may possibly be without bench player Dorell Wright for tonight's matchup
after the 24-year-old was arrested Thursday morning for driving under the
influence and having a suspended license.
<< Pistons resume homestand with visit from Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Eastern Conference also-rans continue playing out
the string tonight in Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons play host to the
Washington Wizards.
The Pistons fell to 1-1 on a three-game homestand Wednesday, wh
<< Lakers visit Phoenix for key Pacific showdown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The two top teams in the Pacific Division meet for the last
time in the regular season tonight, when the second-place Phoenix Suns welcome
the front-running Los Angeles Lakers to the U.S. Airways Center.
The defending NBA
<< Stars return home to face Williams and Kings
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Stars haven't done much to further their playoff
chances since the Olympic break, but an upcoming six-game homestand for a team
that has been strong this year as the host could do the trick.
Dallas begins that residenc
<< Bucks, Jazz to square off in battle of surging clubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the NBA's hottest teams clash in Brew City tonight
as the Utah Jazz pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Jazz won their fourth straight contest and improved to 2-0 on a four-game
road trip Wednesday in Auburn Hil
<< Sliding Ducks host Predators
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks aim for their first win in nearly a month
tonight when they host a Nashville Predators club that is struggling to hold
onto one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference.
The Ducks have dropped
Blazers try to enhance playoff chances in clash with Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to improve their playoff
chances tonight by earning a sixth straight win over the lottery-bound
Sacramento Kings.
The Blazers, who currently lead Memphis by four games for the eighth and fin
Fire sign former Fulham striker John >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire Soccer signed 24-year-old
Dutch forward Collins John, the Major League Soccer club announced on Friday.
"We are very excited to have Collins join the Chicago Fire," Fire Technical
Direc
Dynamo bring back Serioux >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo acquired defender/midfielder
Adrian Serioux from Toronto FC in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2011
draft, the Major League Soccer clubs announced on Friday.
The 31-year-old Serioux,
George Karl to miss 3 more road games >>
DENVER (AP) -George Karl will skip the last three games on the Denver Nuggets' road trip as he adjusts to a feeding tube that was placed into his stomach as part of his cancer treatment.The Nuggets coach has already missed two games since being diag
Bengals make it official with Bryant >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals announced the
signings of wide receivers Antonio Bryant and Chris Davis Friday.
Terms of the contracts were not released, but Bryant's deal is believed to be
for $28 million
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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