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Bulls home on Friday to host Golden State
Put the Bulls on
your desktop!
New this season and sponsored by GMC, the Bulls are proud to present a desktop screensaver. Simply click here now to download it and follow the simple instructions to install. Also, let everyone in your home or office know who you cheer for by grabbing the latest Bulls wallpaper!
Jan. 16
Bulls @ Miami
6:00 p.m.
CSN-Chicago, ESPN2
ESPN 1000
Jan. 18
Bulls vs Golden State
8:30 p.m.
CSN-Chicago, ESPN
ESPN 1000
Jan. 19
Bulls vs Detroit
7:30 p.m.
WGN Superstation
ESPN 1000
Jan. 21
Bulls @ Memphis
4:30 p.m.
WGN, TNT
ESPN 1000
Jan. 23
Bulls vs Indiana
7:30 p.m.
CSN-Chicago
ESPN 1000
Tickets on sale now!
Tickets for every Bulls home game are on sale now at the United Center, Ticketmaster, online at Bulls.com or by calling 1.800.4NBA.TIX.
Vote for the Bulls!
Voting for the this season's NBA All-Star Game ends Sunday! The 2008 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, will be held at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008.
Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and Ben Wallace are representing Chicago on the ballot this season and need your vote! The Bulls and Allstate, sponsor of this season's balloting, are asking you to show your support for the team. Visit Bulls.com or click here now to cast your vote today.
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Game Notes: Bulls at Miami Heat
Chicago holds a 40-30 advantage in the series after 70 regular-season meetings
Hello ***,
The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat entered this season as Eastern Conference title contenders. Instead, they're finding their seasons slipping away.
On Wednesday, Shaquille O'Neal is expected to be back on the court when the Bulls try and hand the Heat their 11th straight defeat in the opener of a season-high seven-game homestand for Miami (6:00 p.m. CT | ESPN2 & CSN | ESPN 1000).
In 2006.07, the Bulls won 49 games for their highest total since 1997.98 - Michael Jordan's final season with Chicago. Miami, meanwhile, overcame numerous injuries to finish at 44-38. The Bulls swept the Heat in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out in the second round against Detroit.
With the Bulls having gained valuable experience and the Heat hoping to avoid another injury-plagued season, each club had hopes for a longer playoff run in 2007.08. Chicago (14-22), however, has floundered, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring (93.8) and field-goal percentage (41.8).
Their early struggles led to the firing of coach Scott Skiles on Dec. 24. They're 5-5 under interim Jim Boylan, but are still tied with Milwaukee at the bottom of the Central Division.
Meanwhile, the Heat (8-28) have been unable to overcome the early absence of Dwyane Wade and the more recent one of O'Neal, who hasn't played since Dec. 26 because of a hip injury.
O'Neal practiced Tuesday and coach Pat Riley said he will "surely, probably" have him back in the starting lineup Wednesday.
"I think (O'Neal's) explosion has looked good the last two days," said Wade, who missed Miami's first seven games after offseason knee and shoulder surgeries. "The main thing is to stay healthy as he continues to go through practices and games."
O'Neal, one of the league's dominant post players, has also been hampered by a sore left knee during the least productive season of his 16-year career. He's scoring a career-low 13.9 points per game while averaging 7.9 rebounds - the second-lowest total of his career.
O'Neal's struggles have been only a small part of Miami's dreadful first half. The 2005.06 NBA champions are mired in their longest losing streak since dropping 12 in a row Nov. 8-Dec. 4, 2001.
"We've been searching all year," said Riley, whose team capped an 0-5 road trip with a 114-88 loss to New Orleans on Friday. "This is now about a major effort every single night - mentally, physically and spiritually.
"We have to play the game a lot better than we have played it. We have to show a lot more resolve. Then you let the chips fall."
Miami starts play 9 1/2 games behind New Jersey for the eighth and final playoff spot in East.
Chicago made only three of 14 shots as it was outscored 32-10 in the third quarter of an 102-88 loss at Orlando on Tuesday.
"We had a lack of effort all the way across the board by just about everybody," Boylan said. "Our defense is soft and anemic at times and we just seem to be casual with the ball. If we want to get ourselves right, we have to change the way we're playing."
The Bulls were without point guard Kirk Hinrich, who missed the game with back spasms. They also lost reserve forward Andrés Nocioni in the third quarter because of a hip bruise. Both are day-to-day.
Tune in to watch tonight's game at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and Comcast SportsNet Chicago and listen live on ESPN Radio 1000. Visit Bulls.com or click here now for a complete preview.
Probable Bulls Starters | Roster and Statistics
Guard 21 Chris Duhon 6-1 | 185
Guard 2 Thabo Sefolosha 6-7 | 215
Forward 9 Luol Deng 6-9 | 220
Forward 32 Joe Smith 6-10 | 225
Center 3 Ben Wallace 6-9 | 240
Probable Heat Starters | Roster and Statistics
Guard 55 Jason Williams 6-1 | 180
Guard 3 Dwyane Wade 6-4 | 216
Forward 31 Ricky Davis 6-7 | 205
Forward 40 Udonis Haslem 6-8 | 235
Center 32 Shaquille O'Neal 7-1 | 325
Injury Report
Kirk Hinrich (back spasms) and Andrés Nocioni (bruised hip) are both day-to-day. For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report at Bulls.com.
Shaquille O'Neal (left hip bursitis) is expected to play, while Alonzo Mourning (torn right patella and quadriceps tendons) is out for Miami.
Century Club
The Bulls have now scored 100+ points in 13 games this season (7-6 record), including the first five games since Jim Boylan took over the coaching duties. When Chicago's defense surrenders 100+ points this season, the Bulls are 0-14.
Get more game notes, statistics and player bios at Bulls.com.
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