JRTrips
BULLS vs. HEAT

Derrik Rose and the (29-34) Chicago Bulls, are looking for their first head-to-head victory of the season over the Miami Heat and Michael Beasley, who was chosen one pick after Rose last summer. Tonight in Miami, Chicago will try to maintain its hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference and snap a four-game road losing streak. The Bulls rookie Derrik Rose ranks second among rookies with 16.6 points per game and first with 6.3 assists a contest. He matched a season high with 27 points Friday night against Milwaukee, helping the Bulls to a 117-102 win that put them into sole possession of eight in the East. Ben Gordon led Chicago with 34 points against the Bucks, helping to shoulder the scoring load as forward Luol Deng missed his third straight game with what could be a stress fracture in his right leg. John Salmons, who was requried in a trade from the Sacramento Kings has been his replacement averaging 22.0 points in his last two games. Miami also made a deal before the deadline, adding Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon from Toronto for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. In the last game, Miami won in the closing seconds 95-93 at Chicago on Feb. 12th. Beasley had 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting off the bench in that game. Rose was 3-of-14 from the field and totaled 10 points, three assists and five turnovers in the Bulls' 90-77 loss at Miami on Dec. 26th. Chicago is 10-23 away from home, and its current four-game road skid includes lopsided losses at Washington and Charlotte. Dwyane Wade, the NBA scoring leader, and the Heat (33-29) are fifth in the East.They're 3-2 in their last five games, with both losses coming against East-leading Cleveland. Saturday night's 99-89 road defeat to the Cavaliers came despite 25 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and four steals from Wade. Beasley added 19 points off the bench.Wade is averaging 36.4 points and 10.8 assists in his last eight games, with four 40-point efforts over that span. The Bulls just don"t play well on the road as they don have enough consistent scoring and they face a Miami team that is playing their best basketball on losing to Cleveland in two close ball games over their last five games. Wade is on a tear right probaly playing better than any player in the league right now and the bulls have no answer for him on the road tonight.

TAKE MIAMI-5