It's not one to be too upset about for Chicago Bulls fans, but losing at home to the in-conference Miami Heat will not result in a whole lot of positives for the United Center faithful.

Coming off what many would consider a statement win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago fell Monday night to a Heat lineup without key players Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic by a score of 89-84. Miami came into this matchup having lost seven of their previous eight games, while the Bulls were expected to take care of business at home before heading out for their upcoming 12-day road trip out west.

Chicago started the game with their same trusty lineup, and Pau Gasol had a strong first quarter facing Chris Bosh, finishing the first period with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Gasol scored the Bulls' first nine points and helped the team jump out to a 23-18 lead by the end of the first. Chicago seemed to have their way near the rim early in the game without the disrupting presence of Whiteside in the middle.

The Bulls also began the second quarter well, with Doug McDermott and Aaron Brooks knocking down back-to-back triples to create a nine-point lead at 29-20. But Derrick Rose went down with hamstring tightness later in the quarter, leaving Brooks as Chicago's lone point man. Rose did not return. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade and the Heat turned it on to finish the quarter out in front by two, 49-47. Wade scored 10 in the second and dominated a struggling Jimmy Butler.

Despite Rose's absence, the Bulls came out of the gate to surprisingly regain a nine-point lead by the 7:13 mark in the third quarter, 60-51. Miami came back to within three before a Bulls timeout that sent the momentum back to Chicago, who went on to hold a 68-61 lead by quarter's end.

Wade was there for the Heat at every turn that seemed to put Miami out of contention for the game, and he kicked off the fourth quarter with two straight baskets for his team. The Heat seized the lead from Chicago on a Gerald Green and-one at the 7:13 mark of the period, but the Bulls would not go away, despite the problem of having to depend on Brooks for extended minutes on the floor. 

With just 1:14 to go, it was all tied up at 84, but a Bosh jumper assisted by Wade gave Miami the lead, and from there 'Flash' scored the game's final three points. The Heat finalized their victory after poor execution down the stretch by Chicago.

The question of Rose's potential return was not answered until the start of the third quarter, and the Bulls failed to step up in his absence. Tony Snell went just 2-11 from the field (0-4 from three-point range) and was all-around abysmal Monday.

In general, Chicago has had to rely on the inconsistent trio of Nikola Mirotic, McDermott, and Snell for reserve production lately. Until Mike Dunleavy returns to action, it looks like it will be much more of the same in the Windy City. Priority number one remains the health of Rose and the depth at that point guard position.

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Danny Vertuno
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