Bulls lead Heat after 3rd quarter

By K.C. Johnson

MIAMI -- Did you expect anything but a close game?

The Bulls retook a slim 70-69 lead over the Heat entering the fourth quarter.

Remember last season, Miami won one of the four-game season series by two points in the waning seconds on a Shawn Marion dunk. They won another in memorable fashion when Dwyane Wade sank a running three-pointer at the double-overtime buzzer, ending a great duel with Ben Gordon.

Wade and Luol Deng are involved in a shootout this time, with Wade scoring 21 through three quarters and passing 10,000 for his career. Deng has 22 on 10-for-16 shooting.

After a sloppy second quarter in which they repeatedly were beaten to loose balls, the Bulls played more aggressively this quarter, pushing the tempo. They have more fast-break points through three quarters (12) than they did in their first two games combined (10).