Morning Box Score: Bulls Exposed In Opener; Toews Hat Trick Saves Blackhawks

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 30, 2013 3:00PM

Miami 107, Bulls 95
The Bulls may believe this season is their best opportunity to win an NBA championship but the two-time defending champion Heat won't relinquish the title without a fight. If the season opener in Miami was an indication this Bulls team will be like previous versions: good enough to earn a high playoff seed but lacking the depth and execution for a deep playoff run. LeBron James led seven Miami players with 17 points but he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all had subpar games. The Heat outscored the Bulls 37-18 in the second quarter as their long range shooters caught fire on the corner threes and the Bulls (one of the NBA's better teams defending the corner three) were unable to counter. Derrick Rose's much-hyped return fizzled, at least for one night. Rose had 12 points. Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 31 points and Jimmy Butler added 20, but the Bulls' bench was non-existent and unable to contain the Heat.

Blackhawks 6, Ottawa 5
Jonathan Toews scored a hat trick and Corey Crawford was put into duty late in the game to help the Blackhawks rally against the Senators at the United Center Tuesday night. With the Hawks down 4-2 midway through the second period Toews scored his first goal of the night on a wrap-around shot at the 14:30 mark. Toews' second goal came 1:20 into the final period on a hard wrist shot set up by a pass from Johnny Oduya. Toews completed the hat trick with a backhand shot set up by passes from Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook. Andrew Shaw added a goal at the 14:10 mark that proved to be the insurance goal. Nikolai Khabibulin was pulled at the 11:14 mark of the second period in favor of Crawford after allowing the goal to Mika Zibanejad that staked Ottawa to a 4-2 lead. Crawford ended up saving 14 shots.