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Wade set to return when Heat visit Bulls

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Mar 27

After missing the last two games with a sore right knee, Heat guard Dwyane Wade will return to action on Wednesday when Miami takes on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

“I think I’m going to give it a go,” said Wade following the team’s shootaround at the arena. “I’ll get back out there, play, and see how I feel.”

Wade said the bruise in his knee has gone down and the soreness went away. Those factors, coupled with four days of rest, made him decide he was ready. Going up against the Bulls, who defeated the Heat twice in Chicago last season but fell in the first meeting here on Feb. 21, could have also provided some motivation.

Dwyane Wade

“This is a good team. Chicago has been a good team,” said Wade. “Obviously this has been a tough place to play. This team plays with so much energy. This is a team that it is hard to play when you don’t have a lot of time to prepare because you know they’re going to come at you and play hard. That’s Thibs’ way.”

Marco Belinelli (abdominal strain) and Joakim Noah (right foot) will be game-time decisions for the Bulls, while Richard Hamilton and Derrick Rose both remain out.

Despite facing a short-handed team, LeBron James expects another physical effort as the Heat go for a 28th consecutive victory.

“That’s just their nature,” said James of the Bulls. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

James led the Heat in scoring three times versus Chicago last season and in both meetings this season. The favorite to win this season’s NBA MVP has scored at least 30 points in four of his past six games against the Bulls.

When asked about a former NBA MVP in Rose, James acknowledged he wishes he were out on the floor.

“I love competing against the best,” said James. “And he’s one of the best. The NBA as a whole, as a competitor, you miss him out on the floor, even on off days not being able to watch him for the Bulls. It sucks, but health is No. 1 in our league. We’ll see him back soon.”

As for whether or not Rose returns this season, James said the decision should be solely his own.

“When Derrick Rose is ready and he’s feeling confident that he’s ready to come back and play, that’s when he will make his choice,” James said. “He should be the only one that should decide that. No one else is playing for him. No one else has to put on the uniform and go out here and play at a high level. He’s the guy that has to do that.”

Audio—Heat forward LeBron James meets the media following shootaround (03.27.2013):

Audio—Heat guard Dwyane Wade meets the media following shootaround (03.27.2013):

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