Superstar’s Miami return takes center stage
Dwayne Wade makes his first trip back to American Airlines Arena as a member of the Bulls tonight. Will Miami be able to subdue the man who provided the city with 13 seasons of glorious memories?
Chicago’s recent struggles suggest a prime opportunity for Erik Spoelstra’s troops. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the Heat odds of -122 to prevail. The visiting squad, on the other hand, represents a +102 underdog.
Drafted fifth overall in 2003, Wade picked up three titles in South Beach. The 12-time All-Star left town over the summer, though, inking a two-year deal to join his hometown squad. Wade’s been rock-solid in the Windy City, too, averaging 17.9 points in 28.9 minutes per game.
Unfortunately, the rest of his crew appears to have hit a stumbling block. The Bulls have dropped four of their past five. Fred Hoiberg’s gang is also allowing opponents to shoot 46.7 percent from the floor.
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There’s clearly no way for Chicago to keep Hassan Whiteside under wraps. Yet the Heat’s inconsistent backcourt tandem of Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson pales in comparison to the Wade-Rajon Rondo duo at present. With an ultra-motivated No. 3, it’s hard not to imagine the Bulls winning outright.
THURSDAY NBA FREE PICK: BULLS +1.5