Bulls notes

Even though the regular season is less than a week old and the free-agent period is eight months away, Dwyane Wade was asked about the possibility of signing with his hometown Sunday night following the Miami Heat’s 95-87 victory over the Bulls. ‘‘That’s a long way away,’’ he said. “When we get there, we’ll see. But right now, [I’m going to] just focus on my team, focus on getting better here in Miami. Free agency is so far away I can’t even think about it.”

Someone jokingly asked if his struggles in the United Center might affect his decision. “I’ve had some bad games there, but I’ve had some good wins as well,” Wade said. “I don’t love the rims there, but I’ve had some good games there.”

Of course, it’s silly to speculate about his future now because so much can change before Wade becomes a free agent in July 2010. But reality never stopped good speculation — like this summer when his purchase of a luxury townhouse in downtown Chicago fueled rumors of his intention of signing with the Bulls. “I didn’t hear nothing about it this summer,” he said with a smile. “I was there the whole summer and didn’t hear anything.”

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro had some simple pregame advice for the players who struggled to make shots in the first two games. “Keep shooting, keep firing,” he said. “We’ve had good shots from watching the film. We have to put the ball in the basket a bit more to put some pressure on teams, but we’re getting good looks and we have to convert a little better. Eventually we will. Hopefully, tonight it starts.”

It did for a while as the Bulls were 22-for-45 (48.9 percent) from the field in the first half, but they were 14-for-43 (32.6) in the second half and have a field-goal percentage of .413 for the season.

With a free throw late in the third quarter, Wade scored the 10,000th point of his NBA career. ... The Heat was playing without guard Daequan Cook, who sat out with a shoulder injury. Late in the game, Miami center Jermaine O’Neal suffered a broken nose.