Before the game, Derrick Rose said it was just another date on the schedule. Afterwards, the NBA’s MVP was glassy-eyed and fighting back tears of frustration.

Yeah, the Heat’s regular-season series against the Bulls is going to be pretty good.

The season is less than 25-games old and already the Heat and Bulls are playing playoff-caliber defense, sacrificing bodies and struggling to deal with the pressure of closing out a game. The Heat won the first matchup 97-93 at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday but three more games remain this season.

“It’s going to be great down the stretch,” forward Chris Bosh said.

And those are just the preliminary rounds. The real fight won’t begin until the playoffs.

The Heat (15-5) failed to defeat the Bulls (17-5) during the last regular season but has now won five in a row against Chicago, including four straight in Eastern Conference finals. In a matchup of MVPs, LeBron James and Derrick Rose played to a draw. Both players carried their teams to the finish line with one amazing play after another and then both players surprisingly lost their cool in the clutch.

James had a pair of brain lapses in the final two minutes — a traveling violation and an ill-advised shot in isolation — that helped the Bulls back into the game, but when they had a chance to take the lead, Rose missed 3 of 4 free throws including two in a row with 22.7 seconds left.

“You were expecting him to go up there and at least make one of them,” James said. “The ball was on our side this time.”

Not to be out done, James walked to the other end of the court and missed two free throws of his own, leaving the Heat with a tenuous 94-93 lead. Then the refs had to get in on the bizarre narrative that was unfolding on national television.

An inadvertent whistle after James’ second miss eventually gave the ball back to the Heat after James won a tip ball at mid court against Taj Gibson. Mario Chalmers made 1 of 2 free throws, setting up a dramatic finish.

James guarded Rose for the final seven minutes of the game and the Bulls’ final possession was no different. A screen by Carlos Boozer gave Rose just enough space to make a cut towards the basket but Udonis Haslem slid over and provided support. Rose pivoted and went for a fadeaway but missed. Bosh, who slipped at the beginning of the play during the Bulls’ pick and roll, recovered in time to grab the game’s final rebound.

“The way I see it, every time we play the Bulls it’s going to be like that,” Bosh said. “It’s always going to be an atmosphere where nobody wants to lose and that’s how the playoffs are.

“We don’t expect any blowouts. They’re all probably going to come down to the last couple possessions. They’re a great team and we’re going to see them many, many times this year.”

James had 35 points, including nine in the fourth quarter despite his shortcomings at the end. He added 11 rebounds and five assists but also had six turnovers. Rose had 34 points, including nine in the final period, but was 1 of 4 from the field after being guarded by James. He had six rebounds and six assists.

James said his defense against Rose was not the deciding factor in the game but Bosh said James “makes it tough” on Rose.