Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

MIAMI - President Obama traveled to Florida to promote investment in infrastructure today, but it was clear he's got basketball on his mind.

As he opened his speech before a Miami crowd at a port site, the president ribbed the audience by boasting that his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, snapped the Miami Heat's winning streak on Wednesday.

"Now before we get started, I've got to get into a sticky subject. I know you guys aren't happy with my Chicago Bulls. But I just want you to know the Heat are going to be just fine," the president said. "They're going to be ok. They are playing basketball the right way."

On Wednesday, the Bulls ended the Heat's 27-game winning streak with a 101-97 victory over the Miami team. The Heat's run became the second longest streak in NBA history and fell six wins short of the record 33 wins set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

The president also praised the Florida college basketball teams who have advanced in the March Madness tournament.

"The [Miami] Hurricanes - they had a great season… They deserve a big round of applause," Obama said. "Tonight, you've got Florida and Florida Gulf Coast going at it. One of them will go to the Elite 8."

"Let's face it, Florida is the center of basketball right now," he said.