The Miami Heat - Chicago Bulls game featured skirmishes, hard fouls, pushing and screaming and shoving and an awesome assist from D-Wade that saw LeBron James leaping over Chicago's 5'11" John Lucas for the alley-oop yet it all came down to free throws in the dying seconds. Two free throws for this year's MVP to win the game: Miss. Miss. Two free throws for last year's MVP to seal the game: Miss. Miss. “I couldn’t believe he missed both,” Wade said of Rose. “I couldn’t believe LeBron missed both, either. Averaged itself out, I guess.”



Rose’s three-point play with 49.1 seconds left cut the lead to 94-93.

On the play where he missed the free throws, Rose then lost the ball on a drive, but drew contact from Miami’s Udonis Haslem and went to the line. Rose’s first hit the front of the rim and bounced away, and his second rimmed out. James grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Noah—only to miss both free throws himself.

After James’ second miss, Wade said he knocked the ball away and Bosh appeared to emerge with control, but an inadvertent whistle led to a jump ball. James—who talked Bosh out of taking the tap himself—out leaped Taj Gibson, getting the ball to Mario Chalmers, who made one free throw for a two-point lead.

Chicago wound up getting one last chance with 9.9 seconds left, calling time out. Naturally, it went to Rose, who weaved his way into the lane—but came up short. Bosh got the rebound, and Miami began celebrating.

“The ball was on our side this time,” said James, who defended Rose in the fourth quarter—and in the post game, saying last season’s MVP deserved credit for the comeback instead of simply having all the blame for misfiring down the stretch.