[Chicago, IL] With a bad loss to the Boston Celtics still fresh on their minds, a traveling Miami Heat really wanted to bounce back against the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls.

Games in Chicago are special for Miami’s Dwyane Wade because he can visit his family. This time out, even more so. His nephew was shot a couple of weeks ago and was still in the hospital and Wade was able to visit him. The nephew will likely to pull through.

Can’t say as much for the Heat.

In the first quarter, Miami started off strong on a 10-2 run which kept the crowd silent. LeBron James scored 6 points and Udonis Haslem came off the bench and scored 4 points. But, Chicago did fight back and went on a run of their own to end the quarter on a high note.

At the end of one, the Heat were up 22-19.

Miami barely got any bench production in this one, and it showed big time in the second quarter. Chicago came alive and went on a 9-2 run to take the lead. Kyle Korver made two 3-pointers during that run, which gave the Bulls a boost. But once the Big Three for Miami came back into the game, they got right back in it.

Miami ended the second quarter on a 12-0 run to go into halftime with a 41-36 lead.

The teams pretty much played to a draw in the third. Luol Deng was a stand-out for Chicago, scoring 8 points and grabbing a pair of rebounds. For Miami, LeBron scored 7 points and had 3 assists. At the end of three, the Miami Heat were barely holding on to the lead, only up 62-60.

Copyright 2012 NBAE (photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

Big Three or bust: The rest of the Miami Heat team continues to struggle with scoring

The fourth quarter was crazy! It all built up to the point where there was only a minute left, and Chicago was up by one. But on Miami’s next possession, Chris Bosh drove into the lane, passed the ball back to LeBron, who made a three-pointer.

Then, with 11 seconds left, LeBron James was fouled and had an opportunity to put the game away by hitting both free throws. Unfortunately, he only hit one. With 2.2 seconds remaining, C.J. Watson hit a three-pointer for Chicago to send the game into overtime, with the score tied at 84.

The Miami Heat could not hit a shot at all in overtime, while it seemed like Chicago made almost every shot they put up. The Heat went 0-5 from the field, only making two free throws. Meanwhile, Chicago made 5-out-of-8 from the field. The final score was Bulls 96, Heat 86.

LeBron James scored 30 points and had 5 assists. Dwyane Wade scored 21 points in his homecoming. Chris Bosh scored 20 points. Other than the Big Three combining to score 71 points, the rest of the Heat team only managed 15 points.

“It hurts,” James said. “As a team, we felt like we played well. We gave ourselves a chance to win … but they pretty much dominated the overtime.”

The Miami Heat are now 40-17 and next face the Charlotte Bobcats tonight.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Images: Andrew D. Bernstein /NBAE/Getty Images

Miami Heat

[Orlando, FL] After more negative comments came out of the mouth of Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard following the team‘s victory – yes, he still whined after they won – on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m going to warn all Magic fans to pray that management can find a way to unload him before the trade deadline March 15^th.

Already having thrown teammates under the brightly colored – and sometimes smelly – Lynx bus earlier this season, he is at it again, except this time he’s going after the coaches.

“I do want the ball more in the fourth,” Howard stated. “I want to become a closer. The only way you get there is by getting the ball and have coaches have the confidence in giving me the ball.”

Yes, Dwight, that is true, but this is something you should have been working on the past seven-and-a-half seasons instead of only wanting it now. Maybe you should have paid a little more attention to all-time great free thrower Mark Price instead of running to the nearest microphone.

Being a transplant from Cleveland, trust me when I say this: Magic fans, you do not want to have to deal with the ramifications of “The Decision: Part 2.” In case you aren’t aware, LeBron James leaving basketball-mad Cleveland for the the sun and fun of Miami to play for the Heat was “Part 1.”

But James fled after the trade deadline was long gone and the season was over – the Cavs were left with nothing except warehouses full of LeBron jerseys. Note: NBA replica apparel doesn’t burn very well.

Photo: Julien Haler

Dwight Howard having a good time, handing out high-fives to the fans

Well, we all know sequels are never better than the originals! So wouldn’t it be better for the Magic to get something out of Dwight instead of complaints and grievances? That’s right – ship him out before he ships all over Orlando.

So lets take a look at the top three destinations for Dwight Howard that I believe will keep us in contention for years to come (and yes, these are all teams on Dwight’s so-called “wish list”):

1. Trade Dwight Howard and PG Jameer Nelson to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, C.J. Watson and two first round picks (2012 Charlotte and 2012 Chicago).

Why this works: This would be the best option for the Orlando Magic. Keep in mind no matter where you send him, you’re still losing D12.  But this at least gets an NBA All-Star back in return (Deng), a high-energy center-scrapper in Noah, a solid back-up PF in Gibson and a solid PG in Watson.

Not to mention the Charlotte pick, which is protected until 2016. But I don’t see the Bobcats getting any better anytime soon, so that could end up being a top 5 pick down the road.

2. Trade Dwight Howard to the New Jersey Nets for Brook Lopez (who is coming off his injury soon), MarShon Brooks, Sundiata Gaines, Mehmet Okur (expiring contract) and the Nets’ first round pick for 2012 (unprotected).

Why this works: The Magic get three really solid young players, an expiring contract, and a guaranteed top 5 pick in this year’s draft. Let’s not forget what Lopez did last season (20.4 points and 6 rebounds a game) and what Brooks is doing as a rookie (14 points and 4.3 rebounds per game).

On top of those, you get a solid back up point guard in Gaines and an all but guaranteed top 5 pick in this deep, deep draft this season. Long-term this could work out better for the Magic than the Bulls trade but that would have to be seen.

Photo: New Jersey Nets

Will Orlando trade Brook Lopez for Dwight Howard?

3. Trade Dwight Howard to the L.A. Lakers for Andrew Bynum, Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock, the Lakers’ 2012 first round pick and the Mavericks‘ 2012 first round pick.

Why this works: Out of the three trades, this one scares me the most. I’m not 100% sold on Bynum, but he is an NBA All-Star this season. You also get two solid young guards, but definitely not as good as Brooks and Gaines. You also get a few late first round picks.

Do I love this trade? NO!!!! But it’s better than what the other 2 remaining teams on his list could have offered (Celtics and the Mavericks).

Listen Magic fans, I know it will be hard to let go of such a good player, but believe me, the sooner we do this the faster things will get better! Just hope you don’t hold onto him then have a stellar season like the Cleveland Cavaliers did last season (19-63).

And if it weren’t for the L.A. Clippers being so careless with their draft picks, the Cavs would’ve never gotten future star Kyrie Irving. So Magic GM Otis Smith, go get a deal done and bring this city what they deserve, A CHAMPIONSHIP!

By: Mike Yesenko/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: NBA

Dwight Howard