By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — All that DeMar DeRozan wanted to talk about was the lift Toronto’s bench provided. As for his recent scoring tear?
“I don’t think nothing of it,” he said.
DeRozan had 35 points, Delon Wright set career highs with 25 points and 13 rebounds, and the Raptors beat the Chicago Bulls 124-115 on Wednesday night.
DeRozan came up big again after scoring a franchise-record 52 points in a win over Milwaukee on New Year’s Day. He was particularly good in the third quarter this time, scoring 18 points after being held to nine in the first half. DeRozan also shot 5 of 8 on 3-pointers and converted all 10 free throws.
Wright had his first career double-double and hit four 3s to lead a big effort by the bench. He scored 12 in the second quarter and eight more points in the fourth to help Toronto pull away for its ninth win in 11 games.
Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry scored 16 apiece for Toronto. Fred VanVleet, from nearby Rockford, added 13 points, and the Raptors’ reserves outscored Chicago’s 54-39.
“They’ve been great for us all year,” DeRozan said. “We come out slacking. The bench always picks us up, and vice versa. Tonight, the bench did what they’ve been doing all year, got the energy going. We fed off that, and got back in the game.”
He’ll get no argument from coach Dwane Casey.
“The bench really saved us tonight,” he said. “They gave us energy. We just couldn’t get our mojo going with the first unit, but Delon came in and had a career high. I really liked the way he was going after rebounds. His overall game sustained us.”
Justin Holiday led Chicago with 26 points, and Lauri Markkanen added 22 points and 12 rebounds. Nikola Mirotic scored 20, but the Bulls dropped their third straight.
The Bulls looked sharp early on, with a 10-point lead after the first quarter. But they couldn’t sustain their edge on defense and were impatient on offense — particularly the second unit.
“We were coming out and jacking up contested shots with zero or one pass,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “And you can’t have that. So again, that second unit’s been pretty darn good for us. Tonight, we struggled with it.”
PULLING AWAY
Chicago was leading 92-90 early in the fourth when Toronto went on a 16-2 run. Lowry hit a 3 to make it 106-94 with 6:39 remaining, and the Raptors remained in control the rest of the way.
LAVINE UPDATE
The Bulls hope to decide on a return date for G Zach LaVine early next week.
LaVine will travel with the team to games at Dallas and Indiana on Friday and Saturday. Hoiberg said the two-time slam dunk champion will meet with doctors, trainers, management and coaches after the Bulls return home.
LaVine averaged 18.9 points in 47 games for Minnesota last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Bulls acquired him along with Kris Dunn and Markkanen in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Toronto had dropped six straight at Chicago. ... The Raptors were 19 of 19 at the foul line. ... Wright hit 10 of 15 shots.
Bulls: Markkanen has led the Bulls in rebounding 13 times and has eight double-doubles. He is averaging 21 points over his last four games. ... C Robin Lopez had 12 points and a career-high six assists. ... Mirotic has scored 20 or more in eight of his 15 games.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Bulls: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
Showing posts with label Chicago Bulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Bulls. Show all posts
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Horford, Thomas lead Celtics over Bulls 104-87 in Game 3
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) – The Boston Celtics got pep talks from a past champion as well as their current superstar. Then, they put a charge in a series that was slipping from their reach.
Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points, and the top-seeded Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 104-87 on Friday night after dropping the first two games of their opening-round series at home.
The Celtics pulled away after a 20-point lead shrunk to one early in the third quarter and put themselves in position to tie the series just as it was getting away from them. Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.
They got a recorded message from Kevin Garnett before the game. Thomas, still grieving the death of his sister, had a few things to say, too.
"To me personally, it was everything," Jae Crowder said. "It was just a little motivation speech. (Garnett) said we looked like a team that wasn't having fun. We looked like a team that (wasn't) soaking in the moment. We just needed to play for one another, and play for the moment which is at hand being in the playoffs and have fun with it. He basically said put a little more KG into it."
Dwyane Wade scored 18 for Chicago. Jimmy Butler had 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting, and the offense simply didn't click the way it had been, with Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with a broken right thumb. Chicago shot about 39 percent and committed 18 turnovers.
"We're not going to put this all on missing Rondo because he might not show up," Wade said. "It sounds like he's going to be out for a while. We need to come out as a team and figure out how to be better."
Thomas rejoined the team after spending time with his family in Tacoma, Washington. He scored eight points in the third quarter, helping the Celtics regain control, and finished with nine assists in the game.
Crowder added 16 points. Avery Bradley scored 15 and hit four of Boston's 17 3-pointers.
"We weren't coming here hoping to get a win," Bradley said. "We knew we were coming here to win both games."
TIP-INS
Celtics: Coach Brad Stevens shook up the lineup looking for more shooting and athleticism. Gerald Green started over Amir Johnson and had eight points in 21 minutes. Johnson played six minutes. ... Boston hit 17 of 37 3s.
Bulls: The Bulls were 6 of 21 on 3-pointers. ... Chicago is 121-50 all-time in home playoff games. ... The Bulls own a 170-136 edge on the glass in the series after outrebounding Boston 52-37.
HANGING ON
The Celtics' lead was down to 44-43 early in the third when Thomas hit Horford for an alley-oop dunk and nailed back-to-back 3-pointers. Boston maintained a comfortable edge after that.
The Celtics led by 18 after hitting 7 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and were up 37-17 early in the second before the Bulls jumped back into it.
They had the crowd rocking in the closing minute of the half. Nikola Mirotic nailed a 3, cutting it to 44-41, and pointed toward the sky. Wade then blocked Bradley's 3, causing a shot-clock violation with 4.7 seconds left, before Butler missed a desperation 3 for Chicago as time expired.
"It's hard to maintain a lead in this league," Stevens said. "But also, to come into the locker room when they cut it to three and you know you've got to then step up and do it again - I thought that our guys really stayed the course."
NO RONDO
Rondo, who was injured in Game 2, will probably be re-evaluated in a week to 10 days. The Bulls said he won't need surgery.
He watched from the sideline and got in on the action to some extent late in the first quarter. Crowder jawed at the Bulls' bench after hitting a jumper and Rondo extended his leg as he walked by.
"When you tear an ACL, your leg gets stiff every once in a while," Rondo said. "I was stretching my leg out. I always do that throughout the game, I guess he was so deep in our bench, it looked like what may have happened, happened."
UP NEXT
Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) – The Boston Celtics got pep talks from a past champion as well as their current superstar. Then, they put a charge in a series that was slipping from their reach.
Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points, and the top-seeded Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 104-87 on Friday night after dropping the first two games of their opening-round series at home.
The Celtics pulled away after a 20-point lead shrunk to one early in the third quarter and put themselves in position to tie the series just as it was getting away from them. Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.
They got a recorded message from Kevin Garnett before the game. Thomas, still grieving the death of his sister, had a few things to say, too.
"To me personally, it was everything," Jae Crowder said. "It was just a little motivation speech. (Garnett) said we looked like a team that wasn't having fun. We looked like a team that (wasn't) soaking in the moment. We just needed to play for one another, and play for the moment which is at hand being in the playoffs and have fun with it. He basically said put a little more KG into it."
Dwyane Wade scored 18 for Chicago. Jimmy Butler had 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting, and the offense simply didn't click the way it had been, with Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with a broken right thumb. Chicago shot about 39 percent and committed 18 turnovers.
"We're not going to put this all on missing Rondo because he might not show up," Wade said. "It sounds like he's going to be out for a while. We need to come out as a team and figure out how to be better."
Thomas rejoined the team after spending time with his family in Tacoma, Washington. He scored eight points in the third quarter, helping the Celtics regain control, and finished with nine assists in the game.
Crowder added 16 points. Avery Bradley scored 15 and hit four of Boston's 17 3-pointers.
"We weren't coming here hoping to get a win," Bradley said. "We knew we were coming here to win both games."
TIP-INS
Celtics: Coach Brad Stevens shook up the lineup looking for more shooting and athleticism. Gerald Green started over Amir Johnson and had eight points in 21 minutes. Johnson played six minutes. ... Boston hit 17 of 37 3s.
Bulls: The Bulls were 6 of 21 on 3-pointers. ... Chicago is 121-50 all-time in home playoff games. ... The Bulls own a 170-136 edge on the glass in the series after outrebounding Boston 52-37.
HANGING ON
The Celtics' lead was down to 44-43 early in the third when Thomas hit Horford for an alley-oop dunk and nailed back-to-back 3-pointers. Boston maintained a comfortable edge after that.
The Celtics led by 18 after hitting 7 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and were up 37-17 early in the second before the Bulls jumped back into it.
They had the crowd rocking in the closing minute of the half. Nikola Mirotic nailed a 3, cutting it to 44-41, and pointed toward the sky. Wade then blocked Bradley's 3, causing a shot-clock violation with 4.7 seconds left, before Butler missed a desperation 3 for Chicago as time expired.
"It's hard to maintain a lead in this league," Stevens said. "But also, to come into the locker room when they cut it to three and you know you've got to then step up and do it again - I thought that our guys really stayed the course."
NO RONDO
Rondo, who was injured in Game 2, will probably be re-evaluated in a week to 10 days. The Bulls said he won't need surgery.
He watched from the sideline and got in on the action to some extent late in the first quarter. Crowder jawed at the Bulls' bench after hitting a jumper and Rondo extended his leg as he walked by.
"When you tear an ACL, your leg gets stiff every once in a while," Rondo said. "I was stretching my leg out. I always do that throughout the game, I guess he was so deep in our bench, it looked like what may have happened, happened."
UP NEXT
Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Bulls beat Hornets 115-109
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nikola Mirotic scored 24 points, Rajon Rondo had a season-high 20 in his return to the starting lineup and the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-109 to snap a season-high, five-game losing streak.
Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler each had 23 points for the Bulls (32-35), who got a needed win to boost their hopes of earning the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Mirotic, who didn’t play in Chicago’s loss to Boston on Sunday, had five 3-pointers, while Rondo provided the spark for the Bulls in his first start since Dec. 30. Along with hitting a season-high three 3-pointers, he had six assists and seven rebounds.
Jeremy Lamb scored 26 points filling in for Nic Batum (migraine), while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 22 and Kemba Walker 21 for the struggling Hornets. Marvin Williams had 13 points and tied a career high with 18 rebounds.
Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler each had 23 points for the Bulls (32-35), who got a needed win to boost their hopes of earning the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Mirotic, who didn’t play in Chicago’s loss to Boston on Sunday, had five 3-pointers, while Rondo provided the spark for the Bulls in his first start since Dec. 30. Along with hitting a season-high three 3-pointers, he had six assists and seven rebounds.
Jeremy Lamb scored 26 points filling in for Nic Batum (migraine), while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 22 and Kemba Walker 21 for the struggling Hornets. Marvin Williams had 13 points and tied a career high with 18 rebounds.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Celtics beat Bulls 100-80
BOSTON (AP) – Isaiah Thomas scored 22 points and later joined fans doing the wave as it circled TD Garden, and the Boston Celtics handed the Chicago Bulls its fifth straight loss, 100-80.
The Celtics rushed to a 13-0 lead, shutting out Chicago until Dwyane Wade’s jumper nearly six minutes into the game.
Thomas, the team’s leading scorer at 29.2 points per game, played only 24 minutes and sat the entire final quarter. He had some fun with the fans in the closing minutes of the blowout, taking part with teammate Jae Crowder in the crowd’s cheer.
Avery Bradley had 17 points. Robin Lopez and Denzel Valentine led the Bulls with 13 points apiece.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Magic beat Bulls 98-91
ORLANDO, Fla. – Elfrid Payton had 22 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds for his second straight triple-double, and the Orlando Magic rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 98-91 on Wednesday.
Evan Fournier added 20 points to help Orlando erase a 13-point, second-half deficit and snap a two-game losing streak. Jimmy Butler scored 21 points for Chicago. The Bulls have lost three straight.
Evan Fournier added 20 points to help Orlando erase a 13-point, second-half deficit and snap a two-game losing streak. Jimmy Butler scored 21 points for Chicago. The Bulls have lost three straight.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Pistons beat Bulls 109-95
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Reggie Jackson scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons pulled away down the stretch for a victory over the Chicago Bulls, 109-95.
The Pistons climbed into a tie for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference with the Bulls, who were playing without injured Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.
Jackson’s performance has been spotty this season, and at times backup Ish Smith has seemed like a better option late in games. But Jackson was instrumental in helping the Pistons take control in a game Monday that was tied at 79 after three quarters.
Detroit started the fourth with a 12-3 run and held Chicago to 16 points in the quarter. A hanging jumper by Jackson from near the elbow turned into a three-point play when he was fouled, and that gave the Pistons a 102-88 lead with 3:13 to play.
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points for Chicago.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Bulls beat warriors 94-87
CHICAGO (AP) Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and the Chicago Bulls beat Golden State 94-87 on Thursday night in the Warriors’ first game since Kevin Durant injured his left leg.
Golden State was breathing a little easier after learning Durant probably will play again this season. He was hurt two nights earlier in a loss at Washington.
The NBA-leading Warriors’ league-record regular-season streak without consecutive losses ended at 146 games.
Stephen Curry scored 23 points, and Klay Thompson finished with 13. The star guards combined to shoot just 3 of 22 on 3-pointers, and the Warriors made it back-to-back losses for the first time since April 2015.
Bobby Portis added 17 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for Chicago. The Bulls outscored Golden State 10-2 over the final three minutes to wipe out a one-point deficit and come away with their fifth win in six games.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Butler lifts Bulls to 104-103 victory over Celtics
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jimmy Butler and Isaiah Thomas should have plenty to talk about when they see each other in New Orleans this weekend.
Butler made two free throws with 0.9 seconds left, sending the Chicago Bulls to a 104-103 victory over Thomas and the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Butler's clutch foul shots capped a memorable duel with fellow All-Star Thomas in the NBA's final game before the break. Butler and Thomas both finished with 29 points and seven assists.
Butler was touched on the right elbow by Marcus Smart on a turnaround jumper as the horn sounded, drawing a foul. Butler calmly patted his elbow and then walked toward the line while an incredulous Smart danced up the court in disbelief.
"He got a piece of the elbow," Butler said. "People are going to say 'Aw, he didn't foul him,' but he did. So at the end of the day they made the right call."
Said Thomas: "That's horrible when it costs you a game you should have won. That's a bad call."
After Butler's free throws, Al Horford air-balled a baseline jumper on the Celtics' last shot, giving Chicago (28-29) consecutive wins against Eastern Conference powers Toronto and Boston (37-20).
"I'm excited about these two wins over two very good teams," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "Hopefully, we can build off of these coming back off the break."
Bobby Portis had a season-high 19 points for the Bulls, who went 22 for 22 at the line. Robin Lopez had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Taj Gibson finished with 12 points and nine boards.
"It's big for us. It's going to propel us to the second half of the season, which our team really needs," Portis said.
Thomas went 8 for 18 from the field in his 41st straight game with at least 20 points, breaking the team record set by John Havlicek during the 1971-72 season. He made two free throws with 1:30 left to make it 103-100, but he was blocked by Butler on a layup attempt and missed a jumper down the stretch.
Boston also was outrebounded 51-31, leading to a 22-4 deficit in second-chance points.
"They were bigger than us at almost every position and then we didn't do a good job running down balls. So rebounding was an issue," coach Brad Stevens said.
Kelly Olynyk had 17 points and seven boards for the Celtics, who had won four in a row and 11 of 12. Terry Rozier made three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
The Bulls played without guard Dwyane Wade and forward Paul Zipser due to injuries. Wade has been hampered by a bruised right wrist, and woke up Thursday with an illness. Zipser is dealing with left ankle tendinitis.
The break will give the 35-year-old Wade a couple weeks of rest between games.
"It'll be two full weeks since he had the wrist injury, so again, hopefully we'll get him back full strength when we return," Hoiberg said.
Avery Bradley remained out for Boston, and rookie forward Jaylen Brown missed his third straight game with a right hip strain. Bradley, who is averaging 17.7 points, hasn't played in a month because of a sore right Achilles.
FROM DEEP
Boston made 10 of its 14 3-point attempts on its way to a 58-52 halftime lead. The Celtics have made 10-plus 3s in 15 consecutive games.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Amir Johnson scored all of his 10 points in the first quarter. ... Boston has dropped two of three against Chicago. They close out the season series on March 12 in Boston.
Bulls: PG Rajon Rondo rolled his left ankle in the second quarter, but returned to the game in the third. ... Hoiberg said Nikola Mirotic (back spasms) was available before the game, but the 6-foot-10 forward did not play.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Visit the Toronto Raptors next Friday night. Boston has dropped two of three against Toronto this season.
Bulls: Host the Phoenix Suns next Friday night. Chicago lost 115-97 at Phoenix last Friday night.
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jimmy Butler and Isaiah Thomas should have plenty to talk about when they see each other in New Orleans this weekend.
Butler made two free throws with 0.9 seconds left, sending the Chicago Bulls to a 104-103 victory over Thomas and the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Butler's clutch foul shots capped a memorable duel with fellow All-Star Thomas in the NBA's final game before the break. Butler and Thomas both finished with 29 points and seven assists.
Butler was touched on the right elbow by Marcus Smart on a turnaround jumper as the horn sounded, drawing a foul. Butler calmly patted his elbow and then walked toward the line while an incredulous Smart danced up the court in disbelief.
"He got a piece of the elbow," Butler said. "People are going to say 'Aw, he didn't foul him,' but he did. So at the end of the day they made the right call."
Said Thomas: "That's horrible when it costs you a game you should have won. That's a bad call."
After Butler's free throws, Al Horford air-balled a baseline jumper on the Celtics' last shot, giving Chicago (28-29) consecutive wins against Eastern Conference powers Toronto and Boston (37-20).
"I'm excited about these two wins over two very good teams," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "Hopefully, we can build off of these coming back off the break."
Bobby Portis had a season-high 19 points for the Bulls, who went 22 for 22 at the line. Robin Lopez had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Taj Gibson finished with 12 points and nine boards.
"It's big for us. It's going to propel us to the second half of the season, which our team really needs," Portis said.
Thomas went 8 for 18 from the field in his 41st straight game with at least 20 points, breaking the team record set by John Havlicek during the 1971-72 season. He made two free throws with 1:30 left to make it 103-100, but he was blocked by Butler on a layup attempt and missed a jumper down the stretch.
Boston also was outrebounded 51-31, leading to a 22-4 deficit in second-chance points.
"They were bigger than us at almost every position and then we didn't do a good job running down balls. So rebounding was an issue," coach Brad Stevens said.
Kelly Olynyk had 17 points and seven boards for the Celtics, who had won four in a row and 11 of 12. Terry Rozier made three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
The Bulls played without guard Dwyane Wade and forward Paul Zipser due to injuries. Wade has been hampered by a bruised right wrist, and woke up Thursday with an illness. Zipser is dealing with left ankle tendinitis.
The break will give the 35-year-old Wade a couple weeks of rest between games.
"It'll be two full weeks since he had the wrist injury, so again, hopefully we'll get him back full strength when we return," Hoiberg said.
Avery Bradley remained out for Boston, and rookie forward Jaylen Brown missed his third straight game with a right hip strain. Bradley, who is averaging 17.7 points, hasn't played in a month because of a sore right Achilles.
FROM DEEP
Boston made 10 of its 14 3-point attempts on its way to a 58-52 halftime lead. The Celtics have made 10-plus 3s in 15 consecutive games.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Amir Johnson scored all of his 10 points in the first quarter. ... Boston has dropped two of three against Chicago. They close out the season series on March 12 in Boston.
Bulls: PG Rajon Rondo rolled his left ankle in the second quarter, but returned to the game in the third. ... Hoiberg said Nikola Mirotic (back spasms) was available before the game, but the 6-foot-10 forward did not play.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Visit the Toronto Raptors next Friday night. Boston has dropped two of three against Toronto this season.
Bulls: Host the Phoenix Suns next Friday night. Chicago lost 115-97 at Phoenix last Friday night.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Wolves roll short-handed Bulls to help Thibs to season sweep
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Basketball Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tom Thibodeau insisted this was just another game, that there were no hard feelings lingering or extra incentive added when facing the Chicago Bulls after such an acrimonious split in 2015.
The players on his new team and the players on his old team seem to think otherwise.
Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the severely short-handed Bulls 117-89 on Sunday.
Ricky Rubio had 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and Minnesota shot 54 percent to help Thibodeau sweep the season series against his former team.
"It's always hard when you've been through things with people," Thibodeau said. "I really root for that team, those guys, particularly the ones I've coached before. I want them to do well except when we play against them. It's a great basketball city. It's a great organization. I had five great years there."
Doug McDermott scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers for the Bulls, who were missing Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Nikola Mirotic and Paul Zipser with injuries. The Bulls turned the ball over 18 times, were outrebounded 46-35 and were outscored 56-38 in the paint.
Thibodeau's contentious firing was well-documented, but much of the drama was addressed during Minnesota's visit to Chicago in December. The Timberwolves overcame a 21-point deficit to win that game, which started a 13-10 stretch that helped them climb back into the playoff picture in the muddled Western Conference.
"He has a good way of hiding stuff and that kind of emotion," Wiggins said when asked if Thibodeau got an extra charge out of beating the Bulls. "But I would if I was him."
And while the Wolves have taken another step back recently, that December meeting was a prime example of the dysfunction plaguing the Bulls since Thibodeau was fired. Injuries, a lack of shooting and team chemistry issues have weighed on them all season long as they try to stay afloat in the East.
Badly outmanned on Sunday, the Bulls were put away quickly. The Wolves led by 19 in the first quarter and 26 in the first half.
The Bulls made their first five 3-pointers of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13, but Thibodeau kept his starters in deep into the fourth quarter to push the lead back to 30.
"I know him too well. When most people think it's not a big deal, it's a big deal to him," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. "You see him coaching the whole game. He even left some of the guys in late. I can see his hand shaking from over there on our end. I know he really wanted to win that game."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago hit 10 of 25 3-pointers, the first time in 16 games they have hit at least 10. ... Bobby Portis scored 16 points off the bench. ... Michael Carter-Williams (12) and Robin Lopez (10) were the only other Bulls starters in double figures. ... Coach Fred Hoiberg played for the Timberwolves and still owns a home in the Brainerd Lakes area.
Timberwolves: Nemanja Bjelica broke out of a shooting slump with three 3s and scored 16 points off the bench. ... Gorgui Dieng added 10 points and 13 rebounds. ... It was the first sellout of the season for the Wolves, thanks to a healthy youth crowd for the matinee and a strong contingent of Bulls fans.
WOUNDED BULLS
Butler aggravated a bruised right heel on Friday night against Phoenix. The injury had kept him out of three games prior to the loss to the Suns, and Hoiberg said it was too early to tell whether Butler's start in the All-Star game in New Orleans next Sunday is in jeopardy.
Wade missed the game with a swollen right wrist, and X-rays showed no fractures. Mirotic had back spasms and Zipser had a sore left ankle and a stomach illness. That left the Bulls with 10 healthy players. Hoiberg started Jerian Grant, Carter-Williams, McDermott, Lopez and Gibson.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago finally gets back home on Tuesday to face Toronto after a road trip that began on Feb. 1.
Timberwolves: Minnesota wraps up a six-game homestand with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, though former Wolves All-Star Kevin Love will miss the game with a knee injury.
AP Basketball Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tom Thibodeau insisted this was just another game, that there were no hard feelings lingering or extra incentive added when facing the Chicago Bulls after such an acrimonious split in 2015.
The players on his new team and the players on his old team seem to think otherwise.
Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the severely short-handed Bulls 117-89 on Sunday.
Ricky Rubio had 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and Minnesota shot 54 percent to help Thibodeau sweep the season series against his former team.
"It's always hard when you've been through things with people," Thibodeau said. "I really root for that team, those guys, particularly the ones I've coached before. I want them to do well except when we play against them. It's a great basketball city. It's a great organization. I had five great years there."
Doug McDermott scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers for the Bulls, who were missing Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Nikola Mirotic and Paul Zipser with injuries. The Bulls turned the ball over 18 times, were outrebounded 46-35 and were outscored 56-38 in the paint.
Thibodeau's contentious firing was well-documented, but much of the drama was addressed during Minnesota's visit to Chicago in December. The Timberwolves overcame a 21-point deficit to win that game, which started a 13-10 stretch that helped them climb back into the playoff picture in the muddled Western Conference.
"He has a good way of hiding stuff and that kind of emotion," Wiggins said when asked if Thibodeau got an extra charge out of beating the Bulls. "But I would if I was him."
And while the Wolves have taken another step back recently, that December meeting was a prime example of the dysfunction plaguing the Bulls since Thibodeau was fired. Injuries, a lack of shooting and team chemistry issues have weighed on them all season long as they try to stay afloat in the East.
Badly outmanned on Sunday, the Bulls were put away quickly. The Wolves led by 19 in the first quarter and 26 in the first half.
The Bulls made their first five 3-pointers of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13, but Thibodeau kept his starters in deep into the fourth quarter to push the lead back to 30.
"I know him too well. When most people think it's not a big deal, it's a big deal to him," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. "You see him coaching the whole game. He even left some of the guys in late. I can see his hand shaking from over there on our end. I know he really wanted to win that game."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago hit 10 of 25 3-pointers, the first time in 16 games they have hit at least 10. ... Bobby Portis scored 16 points off the bench. ... Michael Carter-Williams (12) and Robin Lopez (10) were the only other Bulls starters in double figures. ... Coach Fred Hoiberg played for the Timberwolves and still owns a home in the Brainerd Lakes area.
Timberwolves: Nemanja Bjelica broke out of a shooting slump with three 3s and scored 16 points off the bench. ... Gorgui Dieng added 10 points and 13 rebounds. ... It was the first sellout of the season for the Wolves, thanks to a healthy youth crowd for the matinee and a strong contingent of Bulls fans.
WOUNDED BULLS
Butler aggravated a bruised right heel on Friday night against Phoenix. The injury had kept him out of three games prior to the loss to the Suns, and Hoiberg said it was too early to tell whether Butler's start in the All-Star game in New Orleans next Sunday is in jeopardy.
Wade missed the game with a swollen right wrist, and X-rays showed no fractures. Mirotic had back spasms and Zipser had a sore left ankle and a stomach illness. That left the Bulls with 10 healthy players. Hoiberg started Jerian Grant, Carter-Williams, McDermott, Lopez and Gibson.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago finally gets back home on Tuesday to face Toronto after a road trip that began on Feb. 1.
Timberwolves: Minnesota wraps up a six-game homestand with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, though former Wolves All-Star Kevin Love will miss the game with a knee injury.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Booker scores 27 points, Suns roll past Bulls 115-97
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) -- Chicago is the latest Eastern Conference team to fall to the Phoenix Suns, another ugly loss for the Bulls on the road.
Devin Booker scored 27 points, Eric Bledsoe added 23 and the Suns rolled past Chicago 115-97 on Friday night.
Jimmy Butler scored 20 and Dwyane Wade 18 for the Bulls, who were coming off a 31-point loss at Golden State two nights earlier.
"Awful, awful," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. "They outcompeted us in every category tonight - every category - rebounding, loose balls, transition 19-6 (in fast-break points). That tells you all you need to know."
The Suns, with the second-worst record in the NBA, snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 10 games.
But they are 11-7 against the East, 7-4 at home. Of course, that makes them 5-30 against the Western Conference.
"We just keep navigating through this season," Phoenix coach Earl Watson said. "It hasn't been the easiest season, but we understand where we started. ... With our young, feisty roster, we continue to push forward."
Butler played despite a bruised right heel, and Wade had an upper respiratory illness.
"Obviously, I was under the weather," Wade said. "I'm just trying to fight fatigue and Jimmy the same thing, trying to come back after being off for a while."
Butler said he was in "a little pain."
"I don't want to say that I'm out there completely healthy, but I want to compete," he said. "I was just hoping this thing goes away so I'm not favoring it. And it's crazy because the way that the game goes, sometimes you've got to use that foot and you try to avoid it."
Chicago has lost three of four, with one stop remaining on a six-game road trip.
T.J. Warren scored 16 and Alan Williams had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.
Phoenix was up by 13 at halftime, led by 14 in the third quarter and opened a 20-point advantage down the stretch in the fourth.
"Just playing defense," Booker said. "I put this game up there with any other game with us playing defense this year. We were at our best, we were helping each other, a lot of communication going on. We've been saying it all year, we can score with anybody, it's just about getting stops."
Chicago had an early 25-16 lead, but the Suns outscored Chicago 23-6 over the final 8:41 of the first half to lead 56-43 at the break.
The Bulls opened the second half with a 9-2 spurt to cut the margin to 58-52, but Bledsoe responded with a three-point play and P.J. Tucker's 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 59-45 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
Chicago scored the first two points of the fourth to get within eight, but never got closer.
Booker's 3 capped a 15-4 run that gave Phoenix its biggest lead, 109-89, with 2:58 to play.
CENTER SHORTAGE
Phoenix center Tyson Chandler sprained his right ankle with 3:50 to play in the first half and did not return. The Suns already were without Chandler's backup, Alex Len, who was suspended by the NBA for one game for leaving the bench during an altercation with the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday night. Their absences meant extra playing time for Williams, who made the most of his 24 minutes on the court.
Williams, who grew up in Phoenix, usually is the most animated player cheering on his teammates from the bench.
"He brings it every day in practice, he brings it every day on the bench," Booker said. "So to see him out there shining and getting this opportunity in front of his hometown, it's unbelievable."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Fell to 26-28. ... Chicago missed 13 of its last 16 shots in the first half. ... The Bulls hadn't played Phoenix in 15 months. The Suns won that game in Chicago 103-101 by scoring the final seven points. ... The Bulls host the Suns in two weeks.
Suns: The crowd of 18,055 was the Suns' sixth sellout of the season. ... Ex-Suns star Shawn Marion had a courtside seat with his young son. ... Williams' mother, Jeri Williams, is the Phoenix police chief. ... Phoenix is second to Golden State in fast-break points.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Complete a six-game road trip at Minnesota on Sunday.
Suns: At the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) -- Chicago is the latest Eastern Conference team to fall to the Phoenix Suns, another ugly loss for the Bulls on the road.
Devin Booker scored 27 points, Eric Bledsoe added 23 and the Suns rolled past Chicago 115-97 on Friday night.
Jimmy Butler scored 20 and Dwyane Wade 18 for the Bulls, who were coming off a 31-point loss at Golden State two nights earlier.
"Awful, awful," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. "They outcompeted us in every category tonight - every category - rebounding, loose balls, transition 19-6 (in fast-break points). That tells you all you need to know."
The Suns, with the second-worst record in the NBA, snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 10 games.
But they are 11-7 against the East, 7-4 at home. Of course, that makes them 5-30 against the Western Conference.
"We just keep navigating through this season," Phoenix coach Earl Watson said. "It hasn't been the easiest season, but we understand where we started. ... With our young, feisty roster, we continue to push forward."
Butler played despite a bruised right heel, and Wade had an upper respiratory illness.
"Obviously, I was under the weather," Wade said. "I'm just trying to fight fatigue and Jimmy the same thing, trying to come back after being off for a while."
Butler said he was in "a little pain."
"I don't want to say that I'm out there completely healthy, but I want to compete," he said. "I was just hoping this thing goes away so I'm not favoring it. And it's crazy because the way that the game goes, sometimes you've got to use that foot and you try to avoid it."
Chicago has lost three of four, with one stop remaining on a six-game road trip.
T.J. Warren scored 16 and Alan Williams had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.
Phoenix was up by 13 at halftime, led by 14 in the third quarter and opened a 20-point advantage down the stretch in the fourth.
"Just playing defense," Booker said. "I put this game up there with any other game with us playing defense this year. We were at our best, we were helping each other, a lot of communication going on. We've been saying it all year, we can score with anybody, it's just about getting stops."
Chicago had an early 25-16 lead, but the Suns outscored Chicago 23-6 over the final 8:41 of the first half to lead 56-43 at the break.
The Bulls opened the second half with a 9-2 spurt to cut the margin to 58-52, but Bledsoe responded with a three-point play and P.J. Tucker's 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 59-45 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
Chicago scored the first two points of the fourth to get within eight, but never got closer.
Booker's 3 capped a 15-4 run that gave Phoenix its biggest lead, 109-89, with 2:58 to play.
CENTER SHORTAGE
Phoenix center Tyson Chandler sprained his right ankle with 3:50 to play in the first half and did not return. The Suns already were without Chandler's backup, Alex Len, who was suspended by the NBA for one game for leaving the bench during an altercation with the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday night. Their absences meant extra playing time for Williams, who made the most of his 24 minutes on the court.
Williams, who grew up in Phoenix, usually is the most animated player cheering on his teammates from the bench.
"He brings it every day in practice, he brings it every day on the bench," Booker said. "So to see him out there shining and getting this opportunity in front of his hometown, it's unbelievable."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Fell to 26-28. ... Chicago missed 13 of its last 16 shots in the first half. ... The Bulls hadn't played Phoenix in 15 months. The Suns won that game in Chicago 103-101 by scoring the final seven points. ... The Bulls host the Suns in two weeks.
Suns: The crowd of 18,055 was the Suns' sixth sellout of the season. ... Ex-Suns star Shawn Marion had a courtside seat with his young son. ... Williams' mother, Jeri Williams, is the Phoenix police chief. ... Phoenix is second to Golden State in fast-break points.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Complete a six-game road trip at Minnesota on Sunday.
Suns: At the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Durant, Thompson help Warriors bounce back, beat Bulls
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Golden State Warriors got their pass-happy, 3-point swishing groove back.
That's what they do. When they lose, they find a way to find themselves the very next time out. Never a losing streak.
Kevin Durant responded from his worst game since joining the Warriors with 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, and Golden State beat the short-handed Chicago Bulls 123-92 Wednesday night for a 138th straight regular-season game without consecutive defeats.
"KD kind of rounded into form and had a nice all-around night," coach Steve Kerr said.
Klay Thompson scored 28 points with six 3-pointers playing on his 27th birthday, Stephen Curry added 13 points and six rebounds and the Warriors had all five starters score in double figures for the fourth time.
Golden State hasn't lost consecutive regular-season games since April 5 and 7, 2015, at San Antonio and New Orleans, during its championship season.
This was the Warriors' eighth win following a loss this season and 18th in a row overall since those dates in '15.
"We don't like losing back-to-back games, 138 straight regular-season games doing that, that's really impressive, got to keep it going," Thompson said.
Robin Lopez had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the undermanned Bulls playing back in the Bay Area where he attended Stanford.
Draymond Green had 19 points with five 3-pointers, eight rebounds and six assists while fill-in starting center JaVale McGee had 13 points and six rebounds for Golden State, coming off a 109-106 overtime loss at Sacramento on Saturday in a game Kerr called one of his team's worst. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year was ejected late in the third quarter at Golden 1 Center and fined $25,000 for cursing at official Bill Spooner and failing to leave the court in a timely manner. Durant and Green got into a heated argument near the bench that night, too.
Durant went 2 for 10 with 10 points and missed all six of his 3-point tries against the Kings.
Golden State hit 15 of 28 3-pointers against Chicago, shot 55.8 percent overall and dished out 37 assists on 48 field goals.
The Bulls were short-handed. Dwyane Wade missed the game with an upper respiratory illness for a Chicago team that had averaged 119.5 points over its previous four outings and limited the Kings to 11 fourth-quarter points in Monday's 112-107 win at Sacramento.
The Bulls, who began 4 for 15 and fell behind 23-11, shot just 40.2 percent and 4 of 24 from long range.
"We committed a lot of turnovers early that got us playing behind and gave them a lot of confidence," Lopez said "That's a tough situation to be in in this building."
PAYING TRIBUTE
Thompson rejoined the team earlier in the day and made his 400th career start following two days away to attend his grandfather's funeral in Vancouver, Washington.
Now, he will push forward and plans to play for all of his family members no longer with him.
"It was great seeing family. It was a tough time, obviously, and it still is," he said. "It hasn't really sunk in. It was really nice to get out there tonight because my family loves to watch me play and it gives them a lot of pride seeing me out on the court. It's a great way to honor them."
TIP-INS
Bulls: G/F Jimmy Butler missed his third straight game for Chicago because of a bruised right heel. ... F Cristiano FelÃcio returned after missing Monday's game with a strained right lower leg. ... F Paul Zipser suffered a left ankle injury in the first quarter and didn't return.
Warriors: Kevon Looney scored in double figures for the second time in his career. ... Briante Weber made his Warriors debut in the third, the first former VCU player with Golden State. ... Home run king Barry Bonds sat courtside. When approached at halftime by The AP regarding his increased Hall of Fame numbers, the slugger said "no interviews." ... Bill Murray also attended. ... Golden State is 9-0 at home against the Eastern Conference.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Suns on Friday trying to end a two-game losing streak in the series. Chicago has won seven of the last eight in Phoenix.
Warriors: Visit Memphis on Friday having lost two straight in the series before Durant's first much-anticipated return trip to Oklahoma City on Saturday.
---
This version corrects that the Warriors have 18 consecutive wins following losses, not 17.
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Golden State Warriors got their pass-happy, 3-point swishing groove back.
That's what they do. When they lose, they find a way to find themselves the very next time out. Never a losing streak.
Kevin Durant responded from his worst game since joining the Warriors with 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, and Golden State beat the short-handed Chicago Bulls 123-92 Wednesday night for a 138th straight regular-season game without consecutive defeats.
"KD kind of rounded into form and had a nice all-around night," coach Steve Kerr said.
Klay Thompson scored 28 points with six 3-pointers playing on his 27th birthday, Stephen Curry added 13 points and six rebounds and the Warriors had all five starters score in double figures for the fourth time.
Golden State hasn't lost consecutive regular-season games since April 5 and 7, 2015, at San Antonio and New Orleans, during its championship season.
This was the Warriors' eighth win following a loss this season and 18th in a row overall since those dates in '15.
"We don't like losing back-to-back games, 138 straight regular-season games doing that, that's really impressive, got to keep it going," Thompson said.
Robin Lopez had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the undermanned Bulls playing back in the Bay Area where he attended Stanford.
Draymond Green had 19 points with five 3-pointers, eight rebounds and six assists while fill-in starting center JaVale McGee had 13 points and six rebounds for Golden State, coming off a 109-106 overtime loss at Sacramento on Saturday in a game Kerr called one of his team's worst. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year was ejected late in the third quarter at Golden 1 Center and fined $25,000 for cursing at official Bill Spooner and failing to leave the court in a timely manner. Durant and Green got into a heated argument near the bench that night, too.
Durant went 2 for 10 with 10 points and missed all six of his 3-point tries against the Kings.
Golden State hit 15 of 28 3-pointers against Chicago, shot 55.8 percent overall and dished out 37 assists on 48 field goals.
The Bulls were short-handed. Dwyane Wade missed the game with an upper respiratory illness for a Chicago team that had averaged 119.5 points over its previous four outings and limited the Kings to 11 fourth-quarter points in Monday's 112-107 win at Sacramento.
The Bulls, who began 4 for 15 and fell behind 23-11, shot just 40.2 percent and 4 of 24 from long range.
"We committed a lot of turnovers early that got us playing behind and gave them a lot of confidence," Lopez said "That's a tough situation to be in in this building."
PAYING TRIBUTE
Thompson rejoined the team earlier in the day and made his 400th career start following two days away to attend his grandfather's funeral in Vancouver, Washington.
Now, he will push forward and plans to play for all of his family members no longer with him.
"It was great seeing family. It was a tough time, obviously, and it still is," he said. "It hasn't really sunk in. It was really nice to get out there tonight because my family loves to watch me play and it gives them a lot of pride seeing me out on the court. It's a great way to honor them."
TIP-INS
Bulls: G/F Jimmy Butler missed his third straight game for Chicago because of a bruised right heel. ... F Cristiano FelÃcio returned after missing Monday's game with a strained right lower leg. ... F Paul Zipser suffered a left ankle injury in the first quarter and didn't return.
Warriors: Kevon Looney scored in double figures for the second time in his career. ... Briante Weber made his Warriors debut in the third, the first former VCU player with Golden State. ... Home run king Barry Bonds sat courtside. When approached at halftime by The AP regarding his increased Hall of Fame numbers, the slugger said "no interviews." ... Bill Murray also attended. ... Golden State is 9-0 at home against the Eastern Conference.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Suns on Friday trying to end a two-game losing streak in the series. Chicago has won seven of the last eight in Phoenix.
Warriors: Visit Memphis on Friday having lost two straight in the series before Durant's first much-anticipated return trip to Oklahoma City on Saturday.
---
This version corrects that the Warriors have 18 consecutive wins following losses, not 17.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Wade scores 31, Bulls blow big lead but hold off Kings
By JEFFREY WEIDEL
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Dwyane Wade knows he's lost some of his athleticism. But the Chicago Bulls' veteran guard hasn't lost the ability to make clutch shots.
Wade scored 31 points, including the final seven for Chicago to rescue the Bulls and help them hold off the Sacramento Kings 112-107 on Monday night.
The 35-year-old Wade had 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit the biggest shot of the game, a tiebreaking 20-footer to put Chicago ahead for good at 109-107 with 13 seconds left.
"He's a great player and hit a big one for us. He's been doing that for a (long) while," teammate Michael Carter-Williams said. "His instincts are still there. He comes up big down the stretch."
After the Bulls squandered a 27-point lead in the second half, Wade's late-game heroics included one more critical play. He stole the inbounds pass following a timeout and went the length of the court for a dunk to make it a four-point lead.
"Dwyane Wade played an unbelievable game. Take your hats (off) to him. It was vintage Dwyane Wade," Kings guard Darren Collison said.
Wade added a free throw with a second to play following the second technical foul of the night on a furious DeMarcus Cousins, who thought he was fouled on a 3-point attempt. Cousins was ejected after picking up his 16th technical of the season, a total that triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
Just after the third quarter ended, a minor fracas broke out that involved Cousins, teammate Matt Barnes, Bulls assistant head coach Jim Boylen and Chicago forward Taj Gibson. Cousins shoved Boylen's arm away as tempers flared, and all three players were given technicals.
It was a frustrating night for Cousins. He missed 11 of 16 shots and finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He left the locker room after the game, refusing to talk to the media.
Sacramento coach Dave Joerger wasn't sure if the Kings will have Cousins against Boston on Wednesday.
"I don't know, we'll have to wait and see," Joerger said.
Carter-Williams had 21 points for the Bulls, and Robin Lopez scored 17. Jerian Grant added 13 points as Chicago won its second straight and third in four games.
The Bulls played without leading scorer Jimmy Butler, who missed his second consecutive game with a bruised right heel. He participated in Monday's shootaround and was a game-time decision.
Wade is well aware of how Butler's absence affects his role.
"I know I'm going to get the ball more and have to make more plays," Wade said. "I'm kind of in the Jimmy role. I know I have to take more shots and score more."
Ty Lawson had 22 points and seven assists, and Matt Barnes added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Kings. Collison scored 14 for Sacramento, which has lost four of five.
A corner 3 by Grant gave the Bulls their biggest lead, 82-55, with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter. The Kings cut it to a basket on several occasions in the fourth and tied it on Cousins' bucket with 36 seconds left, but could never take the lead in losing to the Bulls for a fifth straight time.
Sacramento scored 11 straight points to pull to 93-90. Cousins made a driving layup to tie it.
"Obviously, it was a slow start, a very slow start. That's probably an understatement. It's inexcusable," Collison said. "If we don't put ourselves in that hole, that probably gives us a good shot to win."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Rajon Rondo, who led the NBA in assists last season with the Kings, drew a fair amount of boos when he entered in the first quarter. ... Gibson picked up three quick fouls in succession early in the fourth quarter and fouled out late in the game.
Kings: Shot 5 of 20 in the first quarter and trailed 27-11. ... It was the third of a six-game homestand that concludes Sunday against New Orleans.
UP NEXT
Bulls: A six-game road trip gets more difficult Wednesday at Golden State.
Kings: Play host Wednesday to ex-King Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics.
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Dwyane Wade knows he's lost some of his athleticism. But the Chicago Bulls' veteran guard hasn't lost the ability to make clutch shots.
Wade scored 31 points, including the final seven for Chicago to rescue the Bulls and help them hold off the Sacramento Kings 112-107 on Monday night.
The 35-year-old Wade had 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit the biggest shot of the game, a tiebreaking 20-footer to put Chicago ahead for good at 109-107 with 13 seconds left.
"He's a great player and hit a big one for us. He's been doing that for a (long) while," teammate Michael Carter-Williams said. "His instincts are still there. He comes up big down the stretch."
After the Bulls squandered a 27-point lead in the second half, Wade's late-game heroics included one more critical play. He stole the inbounds pass following a timeout and went the length of the court for a dunk to make it a four-point lead.
"Dwyane Wade played an unbelievable game. Take your hats (off) to him. It was vintage Dwyane Wade," Kings guard Darren Collison said.
Wade added a free throw with a second to play following the second technical foul of the night on a furious DeMarcus Cousins, who thought he was fouled on a 3-point attempt. Cousins was ejected after picking up his 16th technical of the season, a total that triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
Just after the third quarter ended, a minor fracas broke out that involved Cousins, teammate Matt Barnes, Bulls assistant head coach Jim Boylen and Chicago forward Taj Gibson. Cousins shoved Boylen's arm away as tempers flared, and all three players were given technicals.
It was a frustrating night for Cousins. He missed 11 of 16 shots and finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He left the locker room after the game, refusing to talk to the media.
Sacramento coach Dave Joerger wasn't sure if the Kings will have Cousins against Boston on Wednesday.
"I don't know, we'll have to wait and see," Joerger said.
Carter-Williams had 21 points for the Bulls, and Robin Lopez scored 17. Jerian Grant added 13 points as Chicago won its second straight and third in four games.
The Bulls played without leading scorer Jimmy Butler, who missed his second consecutive game with a bruised right heel. He participated in Monday's shootaround and was a game-time decision.
Wade is well aware of how Butler's absence affects his role.
"I know I'm going to get the ball more and have to make more plays," Wade said. "I'm kind of in the Jimmy role. I know I have to take more shots and score more."
Ty Lawson had 22 points and seven assists, and Matt Barnes added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Kings. Collison scored 14 for Sacramento, which has lost four of five.
A corner 3 by Grant gave the Bulls their biggest lead, 82-55, with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter. The Kings cut it to a basket on several occasions in the fourth and tied it on Cousins' bucket with 36 seconds left, but could never take the lead in losing to the Bulls for a fifth straight time.
Sacramento scored 11 straight points to pull to 93-90. Cousins made a driving layup to tie it.
"Obviously, it was a slow start, a very slow start. That's probably an understatement. It's inexcusable," Collison said. "If we don't put ourselves in that hole, that probably gives us a good shot to win."
TIP-INS
Bulls: Rajon Rondo, who led the NBA in assists last season with the Kings, drew a fair amount of boos when he entered in the first quarter. ... Gibson picked up three quick fouls in succession early in the fourth quarter and fouled out late in the game.
Kings: Shot 5 of 20 in the first quarter and trailed 27-11. ... It was the third of a six-game homestand that concludes Sunday against New Orleans.
UP NEXT
Bulls: A six-game road trip gets more difficult Wednesday at Golden State.
Kings: Play host Wednesday to ex-King Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Harden scores 42, rallies Rockets past Bulls 121-117 in OT
By JORDAN GODWIN
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) -- James Harden had 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to rally the Houston Rockets past the Chicago Bulls 121-117 in overtime Friday night.
Harden hit a step-back jumper over Paul Zipser with 36.1 seconds remaining in the extra period and was fouled. He made the free throw to give the Rockets a two-point lead they never relinquished.
After losing to Atlanta on Thursday night, the Rockets improved to 12-1 this season in the second of back-to-back games.
The Bulls played without star forward Jimmy Butler, who was nursing a bruised heel. Starting in his place, Michael Carter-Williams had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists before fouling out with two minutes remaining in overtime.
Harden hit a step-back jumper over Carter-Williams to tie the game at 108 with 27.3 seconds remaining in regulation.
On the next possession, Dwyane Wade lost his dribble when guarded by Trevor Ariza, leading to a shot-clock violation with 3.3 seconds to go. Harden tried the same move against Carter-Williams at the buzzer, but his shot fell short.
Chicago dominated the Rockets' interior defense, outscoring Houston 60-46 in the paint. Taj Gibson scored 20 points for the Bulls, and Wade had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
The Rockets built a lead that reached 17 midway through the second quarter as they opened the period on a 26-7 run, all with Harden on the bench. Chicago cut Houston's lead to 60-49 at halftime.
The Bulls started the third quarter on a run of their own, outscoring the Rockets 24-12 out of the extended halftime break and entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead.
In a special halftime ceremony, the Rockets retired Yao Ming's No. 11 jersey with a dedication that featured Yao's family, former teammates, fellow Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
TIP-INS
Bulls: In the fourth quarter, Zipser was elbowed in the face by Harden on a rebound and called for a foul. After a review, Harden also received a technical foul. . Zipser, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic all scored in double figures off the bench.
Rockets: Harden scored his 10,000th point with the Rockets late in the second quarter. He passed Yao for sixth place in franchise history. Harden scored 2,795 points in his first three seasons with Oklahoma City. . Ryan Anderson's shooting woes continued as he went 0 for 7 from the field, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range. He also missed both his free throw attempts.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, the third stop on a six-game road trip.
Rockets: Host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, the first of six straight games against teams with losing records.
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) -- James Harden had 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to rally the Houston Rockets past the Chicago Bulls 121-117 in overtime Friday night.
Harden hit a step-back jumper over Paul Zipser with 36.1 seconds remaining in the extra period and was fouled. He made the free throw to give the Rockets a two-point lead they never relinquished.
After losing to Atlanta on Thursday night, the Rockets improved to 12-1 this season in the second of back-to-back games.
The Bulls played without star forward Jimmy Butler, who was nursing a bruised heel. Starting in his place, Michael Carter-Williams had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists before fouling out with two minutes remaining in overtime.
Harden hit a step-back jumper over Carter-Williams to tie the game at 108 with 27.3 seconds remaining in regulation.
On the next possession, Dwyane Wade lost his dribble when guarded by Trevor Ariza, leading to a shot-clock violation with 3.3 seconds to go. Harden tried the same move against Carter-Williams at the buzzer, but his shot fell short.
Chicago dominated the Rockets' interior defense, outscoring Houston 60-46 in the paint. Taj Gibson scored 20 points for the Bulls, and Wade had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
The Rockets built a lead that reached 17 midway through the second quarter as they opened the period on a 26-7 run, all with Harden on the bench. Chicago cut Houston's lead to 60-49 at halftime.
The Bulls started the third quarter on a run of their own, outscoring the Rockets 24-12 out of the extended halftime break and entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead.
In a special halftime ceremony, the Rockets retired Yao Ming's No. 11 jersey with a dedication that featured Yao's family, former teammates, fellow Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
TIP-INS
Bulls: In the fourth quarter, Zipser was elbowed in the face by Harden on a rebound and called for a foul. After a review, Harden also received a technical foul. . Zipser, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic all scored in double figures off the bench.
Rockets: Harden scored his 10,000th point with the Rockets late in the second quarter. He passed Yao for sixth place in franchise history. Harden scored 2,795 points in his first three seasons with Oklahoma City. . Ryan Anderson's shooting woes continued as he went 0 for 7 from the field, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range. He also missed both his free throw attempts.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, the third stop on a six-game road trip.
Rockets: Host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, the first of six straight games against teams with losing records.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Butler, Lopez lead Bulls to 121-108 win over 76ers
By PATRICK ROSE
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Robin Lopez added a season-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 121-108 on Sunday night.
After a week of tension, the Bulls bounced back from consecutive home defeats to Atlanta and Miami despite blowing a 20-point lead.
Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 31 points for Philadelphia, and Robert Covington added 21 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. The 76ers have lost 12 straight to the Bulls.
The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who stayed in Philadelphia as he rested with a left knee contusion. Embiid is day-to-day.
Butler and Dwyane Wade returned to the starting lineup after being benched as starters in Friday's blowout loss to the Heat. Wade and Butler were critical of teammates after they blew a late double-digit lead in a loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo responded to his teammates' criticism on an Instagram post on Thursday, taking multiple shots at the team leadership. Wade, Butler, and Rondo all were fined by the Bulls.
After a team meeting, Butler and the Bulls had one of their worst performances of the season against Miami. Butler struggled off the bench, scoring just three points on 1-of-13 shooting. Against the 76ers, Butler was more aggressive, getting to the free throw line and setting up his teammates. He had seven assists and eight rebounds.
The Bulls closed out the first quarter with a 13-0 run. Rondo made a pass that traveled three-quarters of the court to Nikola Mirotic to put the Bulls up 37-23 at the end of the quarter. They extended their lead to 20 early in the second quarter.
The 76ers got the lead down to six at one point in the second quarter, and came back from the 20-point deficit in the third. T.J. McConnell had back-to-baskets to tie it at 79. Butler answered for the Bulls, making a jumper and then, on the defensive side, stole a pass and finished with a dunk to give the Bulls a 92-83 lead late in the third quarter.
The Bulls bench outscored the 76ers bench 49-15.
TIP-INS
76ers: Despite the recent success, coach Brett Brown wouldn't kid himself about where it was in the rebuild process. "We are a long ways, in my eyes, away from doing what I want to do, what we want to do as an organization," Brown said. "To be one of the elite teams annually in the NBA takes a lot. So that question to me is a very distant type of feeling." At 17-29, the 76ers are in position to reach the 20-win mark for the first time in four seasons. ... C Jahlil Okafor did not play despite suiting up. He has a sore right knee and has played only 31 minutes in the last four games. It was his eighth DNP of the season due to a coaching decision.
Bulls: F Taj Gibson missed the game after taking a cortisone shot to ease pain in his left ankle. ... G Denzel Valentine was back with the Bulls after a one-game stint with D-League affiliate Windy City Bulls. The first-round pick scored 24 points and had eight assists and seven rebounds for the Windy City. In limited minutes, Valentine is averaging 3.3 points per game for the Bulls.
UP NEXT
76ers: Return to Philadelphia on Monday to host Sacramento.
Bulls: Head to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to begin a six-game road trip. The Bulls don't return home until Feb. 14.
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Robin Lopez added a season-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 121-108 on Sunday night.
After a week of tension, the Bulls bounced back from consecutive home defeats to Atlanta and Miami despite blowing a 20-point lead.
Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 31 points for Philadelphia, and Robert Covington added 21 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. The 76ers have lost 12 straight to the Bulls.
The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who stayed in Philadelphia as he rested with a left knee contusion. Embiid is day-to-day.
Butler and Dwyane Wade returned to the starting lineup after being benched as starters in Friday's blowout loss to the Heat. Wade and Butler were critical of teammates after they blew a late double-digit lead in a loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo responded to his teammates' criticism on an Instagram post on Thursday, taking multiple shots at the team leadership. Wade, Butler, and Rondo all were fined by the Bulls.
After a team meeting, Butler and the Bulls had one of their worst performances of the season against Miami. Butler struggled off the bench, scoring just three points on 1-of-13 shooting. Against the 76ers, Butler was more aggressive, getting to the free throw line and setting up his teammates. He had seven assists and eight rebounds.
The Bulls closed out the first quarter with a 13-0 run. Rondo made a pass that traveled three-quarters of the court to Nikola Mirotic to put the Bulls up 37-23 at the end of the quarter. They extended their lead to 20 early in the second quarter.
The 76ers got the lead down to six at one point in the second quarter, and came back from the 20-point deficit in the third. T.J. McConnell had back-to-baskets to tie it at 79. Butler answered for the Bulls, making a jumper and then, on the defensive side, stole a pass and finished with a dunk to give the Bulls a 92-83 lead late in the third quarter.
The Bulls bench outscored the 76ers bench 49-15.
TIP-INS
76ers: Despite the recent success, coach Brett Brown wouldn't kid himself about where it was in the rebuild process. "We are a long ways, in my eyes, away from doing what I want to do, what we want to do as an organization," Brown said. "To be one of the elite teams annually in the NBA takes a lot. So that question to me is a very distant type of feeling." At 17-29, the 76ers are in position to reach the 20-win mark for the first time in four seasons. ... C Jahlil Okafor did not play despite suiting up. He has a sore right knee and has played only 31 minutes in the last four games. It was his eighth DNP of the season due to a coaching decision.
Bulls: F Taj Gibson missed the game after taking a cortisone shot to ease pain in his left ankle. ... G Denzel Valentine was back with the Bulls after a one-game stint with D-League affiliate Windy City Bulls. The first-round pick scored 24 points and had eight assists and seven rebounds for the Windy City. In limited minutes, Valentine is averaging 3.3 points per game for the Bulls.
UP NEXT
76ers: Return to Philadelphia on Monday to host Sacramento.
Bulls: Head to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to begin a six-game road trip. The Bulls don't return home until Feb. 14.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Goran Dragic leads Heat to 6th straight, 100-88 over Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — The mantra of every struggling team is to keep working and things will eventually turn around.
Although it rarely works out that way, the Miami Heat are trying to be the exception.
Goran Dragic had 26 points and 11 assists, Willie Reed scored 20 points and Dion Waiters added 19 to lead the Heat to their sixth straight win Friday night, a 100-88 victory over the bickering Chicago Bulls.
Dragic was asked what has pleased him most about the streak following an 11-30 start.
"That we're doing it as a team," he said. "We're playing for each other, we're fighting for each other. Everybody's feeling comfortable. We know what we need to do. As long as we take care of business with the defense, we feel like can play with anyone."
Dwyane Wade had 15 points to lead the Bulls, who began the day with a team meeting and ended it with a second straight frustrating loss.
Wade and Jimmy Butler started the controversy when they questioned the desire of the team's younger players following a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo fired back a day later, criticizing Wade and Butler in an Instagram post.
All three players were fined, and Wade and Butler were held out of the starting lineup as punishment.
"We obviously had a very emotional day," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "It's not an excuse for how we played. It's the worst game we've played all year, in my opinion."
Butler was the first off bench and received a loud ovation from the United Center crowd when he checked in with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter. Wade also received a loud ovation when he entered 28 seconds later.
Rondo, though, was greeted by some boos when he checked in with 5:05 to go in the first.
Whether it was the controversy or coming off the bench, Butler never developed a rhythm and finished with just three points on 1-for-13 shooting.
"I'll be back," he said. "I promise I will be back. I am not worried at all."
Miami took control with a 24-14 advantage in the third quarter to break open a tie game at halftime. The Bulls tried to rally in the fourth, but the Heat answered every charge.
"I liked our toughness, in the second half especially," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
TIP INS
Heat: C Hassan Whiteside didn't play because of a sprained right ankle suffered Wednesday night against Brooklyn.
Bulls: Part of the frustration for Wade and Butler against the Hawks was losing a game in which they combined for 73 of the Bulls' 114 points. It was the first time they each had scored at least 30 points in a game this season.
MEDIA UNFRIENDLY
Besides Wade and Butler not starting, all three players were fined for airing grievances in the media and on social media. General manager Gar Forman made his displeasure known in the team meeting and in individual talks with the players.
"It's not how we want to operate," Forman said. "It is totally unacceptable, and we made it very clear to the players that were involved that it's unacceptable. It's a distraction that's not needed. I think it's a detriment to team growth."
NO REGRETS
With the controversy and recent struggles, Wade was asked if he had any second thoughts about signing with the Bulls after spending his first 13 seasons with the Heat.
"I've been happy," he said. "The process of losing ballgames is never fun. ... I'm not having fun being an average team, from that standpoint, but I am enjoying the journey."
MOVING ON
As part of his Instagram post, Rondo said his "vets" with the Celtics didn't take days off, a clear shot at Wade.
"I could take that as a personal attack," he said. "But what's that going to do for me? Come in here and fight Rajon because he said his vets practiced every day? I'm 35. I'm not practicing every day. That's very clear."
UP NEXT
Heat: Host the Pistons on Saturday night. Miami has dropped its first two games against Detroit by a combined 32 points.
Bulls: They wrap up a three-game homestand Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers before beginning a six-game road trip.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Bulls ride Wade and Butler to 100-92 win over Magic
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Dwyane Wade trusts his natural feel for the game when it's time to defer and allow Jimmy Butler to take over down the stretch.
The 14-year veteran guard also knows when his new team needs more of him late in the games. He sensed it Tuesday night, scoring seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Chicago Bulls to 100-92 road win over the struggling Orlando Magic.
It was the second straight game that Wade took over in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago to victory.
''Each game is different and it calls for something different,'' Wade said of how he and Butler play off each other. ''Like I said earlier in the year, I think we are both more dynamic when we are both able to score.''
Both took turns in the fourth as the Bulls pulled away in otherwise close game. Butler scored six of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as they took turns pulling up for jumpers and driving to the basket against a Magic team that was playing without three of its top four guards.
But Wade just seemed to have a little more energy as he played the role of scorer and facilitator in setting up his teammates for easy baskets throughout the fourth quarter.
''He's been huge lately,'' Butler said. ''He's taking and making shots, tough ones at that, passing the ball to the open guy. Me and him both decided to miss a couple of wide-open layups tonight, that's part of it. But he has been huge.''
His performance took a little pressure off Jerian Grant, who was inserted back into the starting lineup at point guard before the game. Wade's vision also played a part in backup center Cristiano Felicio's 12-point, 10-rebound performance.
''He is obviously a guy who can get it going at any time,'' Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said of Wade. ''He had three big buckets going into halftime to get him some confidence and little rhythm and then was awesome in the fourth quarter to close the game.''
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago shook up its point guard position before Tuesday night's game. Grant replaced Carter-Williams in the starting lineup. Hoiberg said Carter-Williams, who didn't play, has been demoted and will come off the bench and did not immediately name a backup, although Rajon Rondo was the first off the bench.
Magic: Injuries caused the Magic to shuffle their starting lineup for the second game in a row. With Augustin out with an ankle injury from Sunday's loss to Golden State, Vogel shifted C.J. Watson, who started at shooting guard Sunday, to backup point guard and coming off the bench. Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon both started at the wings to match up better against Butler and Wade, Vogel said. Fournier, the starting shooting guard, missed his sixth straight game with a sore right foot. ...The MRI on Augustin's sprained ankle came back negative but he is listed as day-to-day. ... Meeks had surgery on his right thumb Tuesday morning and is out indefinitely.
DEPLETED BACKCOURT
With Evan Fournier, Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin all out with injuries, the Magic's backcourt struggled.
That was most evident in the 19 turnovers the team committed. Point guard Elfrid Payton, who had to play 38 minutes because of the lack at the position, committed eight of the costly turnovers.
''Well, they're good at turning teams over and we know we can't over penetrate,'' said Orlando coach Frank Vogel. ''But we're missing our shooting guards so it's a little bit of a challenge with what we have in terms of perimeter shooting.''
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Felicio, who struggled with catching the ball in the paint early in the season, thrived underneath most of the night when Chicago went to its smaller lineup.
He defended Nikola Vucevic decently in the paint and when Butler and Wade found him for lobs inside he made good, converting four of six.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago returns home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Magic: Orlando hits the road for a three-game stretch with Boston as the first stop on Friday night.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Dwyane Wade trusts his natural feel for the game when it's time to defer and allow Jimmy Butler to take over down the stretch.
The 14-year veteran guard also knows when his new team needs more of him late in the games. He sensed it Tuesday night, scoring seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Chicago Bulls to 100-92 road win over the struggling Orlando Magic.
It was the second straight game that Wade took over in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago to victory.
''Each game is different and it calls for something different,'' Wade said of how he and Butler play off each other. ''Like I said earlier in the year, I think we are both more dynamic when we are both able to score.''
Both took turns in the fourth as the Bulls pulled away in otherwise close game. Butler scored six of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as they took turns pulling up for jumpers and driving to the basket against a Magic team that was playing without three of its top four guards.
But Wade just seemed to have a little more energy as he played the role of scorer and facilitator in setting up his teammates for easy baskets throughout the fourth quarter.
''He's been huge lately,'' Butler said. ''He's taking and making shots, tough ones at that, passing the ball to the open guy. Me and him both decided to miss a couple of wide-open layups tonight, that's part of it. But he has been huge.''
His performance took a little pressure off Jerian Grant, who was inserted back into the starting lineup at point guard before the game. Wade's vision also played a part in backup center Cristiano Felicio's 12-point, 10-rebound performance.
''He is obviously a guy who can get it going at any time,'' Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said of Wade. ''He had three big buckets going into halftime to get him some confidence and little rhythm and then was awesome in the fourth quarter to close the game.''
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago shook up its point guard position before Tuesday night's game. Grant replaced Carter-Williams in the starting lineup. Hoiberg said Carter-Williams, who didn't play, has been demoted and will come off the bench and did not immediately name a backup, although Rajon Rondo was the first off the bench.
Magic: Injuries caused the Magic to shuffle their starting lineup for the second game in a row. With Augustin out with an ankle injury from Sunday's loss to Golden State, Vogel shifted C.J. Watson, who started at shooting guard Sunday, to backup point guard and coming off the bench. Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon both started at the wings to match up better against Butler and Wade, Vogel said. Fournier, the starting shooting guard, missed his sixth straight game with a sore right foot. ...The MRI on Augustin's sprained ankle came back negative but he is listed as day-to-day. ... Meeks had surgery on his right thumb Tuesday morning and is out indefinitely.
DEPLETED BACKCOURT
With Evan Fournier, Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin all out with injuries, the Magic's backcourt struggled.
That was most evident in the 19 turnovers the team committed. Point guard Elfrid Payton, who had to play 38 minutes because of the lack at the position, committed eight of the costly turnovers.
''Well, they're good at turning teams over and we know we can't over penetrate,'' said Orlando coach Frank Vogel. ''But we're missing our shooting guards so it's a little bit of a challenge with what we have in terms of perimeter shooting.''
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Felicio, who struggled with catching the ball in the paint early in the season, thrived underneath most of the night when Chicago went to its smaller lineup.
He defended Nikola Vucevic decently in the paint and when Butler and Wade found him for lobs inside he made good, converting four of six.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago returns home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Magic: Orlando hits the road for a three-game stretch with Boston as the first stop on Friday night.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Mavericks edge Bulls 99-98 for 3rd straight win
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Wesley Matthews made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing with 12 seconds left, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 99-98 on Tuesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Six players scored in double figures for the Mavericks, including all five starters. Harrison Barnes had 20 points, Seth Curry added 18 and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dallas trailed 98-96 after Jimmy Butler made a long jumper over Matthews with 23 seconds left, but Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle decided against a timeout and Deron Williams drove into the lane before kicking out to Matthews for the 3.
Chicago had one last chance, but Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-winning jumper from the corner on his 35th birthday as time expired.
Butler finished with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who had won two in a row. Robin Lopez scored 21, and Wade had 17 on 8-for-21 shooting.
Wade's fadeaway jumper gave the Bulls a 94-90 lead with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but they were unable to close out Dallas. Chicago has dropped four in a row against the Mavericks, including a 107-82 loss in their first meeting of the season.
Chicago played without forward Taj Gibson, sidelined by left ankle soreness. Paul Zipser, a second-round pick in last year's draft, started in Gibson's spot and finished with five points and three rebounds in his 13th game of the season.
Gibson, averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, could return Friday night at Atlanta. He had played in every game this season.
Dallas put together a 15-4 run spanning halftime to open a 64-51 lead on Barnes' turnaround jumper with 8:38 left in the third. But Chicago kept chipping away at the deficit, and Lopez's three-point play off a pass from Butler trimmed the Mavericks' lead to 76-74 heading into the fourth.
Williams had 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Dallas, and reserve J.J. Barea scored 12 points. Matthews went 3 for 5 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: C Andrew Bogut missed his third straight game with a right hamstring strain.
Bulls: Butler received his Olympic championship ring during a pregame ceremony. He helped the U.S. win gold in Rio de Janeiro last summer. ... F Doug McDermott, who scored a career-high 31 points in Chicago's 108-104 victory at Memphis on Sunday night, finished with seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Miami on Thursday night. The Mavericks have lost nine of their last 10 regular-season games against the Heat.
Bulls: Visit Atlanta on Friday night. The Bulls have dropped five in a row against the Hawks, including a 115-107 defeat at Atlanta on Nov. 9.
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Wesley Matthews made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing with 12 seconds left, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 99-98 on Tuesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Six players scored in double figures for the Mavericks, including all five starters. Harrison Barnes had 20 points, Seth Curry added 18 and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dallas trailed 98-96 after Jimmy Butler made a long jumper over Matthews with 23 seconds left, but Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle decided against a timeout and Deron Williams drove into the lane before kicking out to Matthews for the 3.
Chicago had one last chance, but Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-winning jumper from the corner on his 35th birthday as time expired.
Butler finished with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who had won two in a row. Robin Lopez scored 21, and Wade had 17 on 8-for-21 shooting.
Wade's fadeaway jumper gave the Bulls a 94-90 lead with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but they were unable to close out Dallas. Chicago has dropped four in a row against the Mavericks, including a 107-82 loss in their first meeting of the season.
Chicago played without forward Taj Gibson, sidelined by left ankle soreness. Paul Zipser, a second-round pick in last year's draft, started in Gibson's spot and finished with five points and three rebounds in his 13th game of the season.
Gibson, averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, could return Friday night at Atlanta. He had played in every game this season.
Dallas put together a 15-4 run spanning halftime to open a 64-51 lead on Barnes' turnaround jumper with 8:38 left in the third. But Chicago kept chipping away at the deficit, and Lopez's three-point play off a pass from Butler trimmed the Mavericks' lead to 76-74 heading into the fourth.
Williams had 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Dallas, and reserve J.J. Barea scored 12 points. Matthews went 3 for 5 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: C Andrew Bogut missed his third straight game with a right hamstring strain.
Bulls: Butler received his Olympic championship ring during a pregame ceremony. He helped the U.S. win gold in Rio de Janeiro last summer. ... F Doug McDermott, who scored a career-high 31 points in Chicago's 108-104 victory at Memphis on Sunday night, finished with seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Miami on Thursday night. The Mavericks have lost nine of their last 10 regular-season games against the Heat.
Bulls: Visit Atlanta on Friday night. The Bulls have dropped five in a row against the Hawks, including a 115-107 defeat at Atlanta on Nov. 9.
Monday, January 16, 2017
McDermott scores career-best 31 to lead Bulls past Grizzlies
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Doug McDermott’s troubles vanished in one quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies.
McDermott scored a career-high 31 points, including the final two free throws of the Chicago Bulls’ 108-104 victory over Memphis on Sunday night.
McDermott, who was 7 of 31 from the field in his four previous games, got 20 of his points in the second quarter, helping replace the scoring missing from Dwyane Wade, who did not play on the second night of a back-to-back after the Bulls beat New Orleans at home Saturday.
”You can’t be perfect every game, so you’ve just got to find a way to contribute out there and continue to work on your game,” said McDermott, who missed only one of seven shots in the second frame. ”That’s what I’ve done, and I was rewarded for the hard work.”
Taj Gibson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had 16 points.
Despite McDermott’s first-half scoring, the Bulls were still in a battle at the end. Chicago broke a 104-all tie – the 11th in the game – with 26 seconds left on a 15-footer from Butler, who also made an 18-footer with 53.6 seconds remaining. McDermott closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with just under seven seconds left.
Butler’s steal of the ensuing inbound pass sealed the Bulls’ second-straight win.
Mike Conley led Memphis with 28 points and eight assists, and Marc Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph finished with 15 points and a season-best 16 boards.
The game featured 16 lead changes, and neither team held a double-digit lead.
”We couldn’t get to our defensive coverage to save our lives down the stretch,” Memphis coach David Fizdale said. ”The second and fourth quarters, we didn’t defend at the level we are capable of defending.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: Nikola Mirotic missed his fourth straight game dealing with an illness. … McDermott’s 22 first-half points were more than his total for the four previous games (21). … Chicago scored 14 points in the first quarter, a season low for the opening frame, but its 38 points in the second was a season-high for a quarter by any Memphis opponent.
Grizzlies: Gasol made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, marking 17 games this season he has made multiple shots from outside the arc. … Memphis made 11 3-pointers in the game and has converted at least 10 3s in 20 games this season, including 11 of the last 14 games.
MLK HOLIDAY
This is the 15th season Memphis has hosted a game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The Grizzlies are 6-9 in the holiday game.
In recognition of the holiday, Memphis wore special MLK50 Pride uniforms. The black jerseys have sea foam blue numbers, letters and piping with the full T-shirt look instead of the normal sleeveless. The piping replicated the railing in front the rooms at the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated in 1968, and the blue color was similar to the doors on the rooms.
MISSING WADE
Wade’s absence meant missing a reunion with Fizdale. Both left the Miami Heat organization after last season – Wade signing with the Bulls and Fizdale getting his first head coaching job in Memphis. Fizdale said he is sort of a ”basketball romantic” and would like to have seen Wade retire in Miami. But he predicted after the player’s career ”his statue will be out front and (Wade) will be remembered as the great player that he should be.”
UP NEXT
Bulls: Return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Grizzlies: Memphis travels to Washington to face the Wizards on Wednesday night.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Doug McDermott’s troubles vanished in one quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies.
McDermott scored a career-high 31 points, including the final two free throws of the Chicago Bulls’ 108-104 victory over Memphis on Sunday night.
McDermott, who was 7 of 31 from the field in his four previous games, got 20 of his points in the second quarter, helping replace the scoring missing from Dwyane Wade, who did not play on the second night of a back-to-back after the Bulls beat New Orleans at home Saturday.
”You can’t be perfect every game, so you’ve just got to find a way to contribute out there and continue to work on your game,” said McDermott, who missed only one of seven shots in the second frame. ”That’s what I’ve done, and I was rewarded for the hard work.”
Taj Gibson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had 16 points.
Despite McDermott’s first-half scoring, the Bulls were still in a battle at the end. Chicago broke a 104-all tie – the 11th in the game – with 26 seconds left on a 15-footer from Butler, who also made an 18-footer with 53.6 seconds remaining. McDermott closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with just under seven seconds left.
Butler’s steal of the ensuing inbound pass sealed the Bulls’ second-straight win.
Mike Conley led Memphis with 28 points and eight assists, and Marc Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph finished with 15 points and a season-best 16 boards.
The game featured 16 lead changes, and neither team held a double-digit lead.
”We couldn’t get to our defensive coverage to save our lives down the stretch,” Memphis coach David Fizdale said. ”The second and fourth quarters, we didn’t defend at the level we are capable of defending.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: Nikola Mirotic missed his fourth straight game dealing with an illness. … McDermott’s 22 first-half points were more than his total for the four previous games (21). … Chicago scored 14 points in the first quarter, a season low for the opening frame, but its 38 points in the second was a season-high for a quarter by any Memphis opponent.
Grizzlies: Gasol made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, marking 17 games this season he has made multiple shots from outside the arc. … Memphis made 11 3-pointers in the game and has converted at least 10 3s in 20 games this season, including 11 of the last 14 games.
MLK HOLIDAY
This is the 15th season Memphis has hosted a game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The Grizzlies are 6-9 in the holiday game.
In recognition of the holiday, Memphis wore special MLK50 Pride uniforms. The black jerseys have sea foam blue numbers, letters and piping with the full T-shirt look instead of the normal sleeveless. The piping replicated the railing in front the rooms at the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated in 1968, and the blue color was similar to the doors on the rooms.
MISSING WADE
Wade’s absence meant missing a reunion with Fizdale. Both left the Miami Heat organization after last season – Wade signing with the Bulls and Fizdale getting his first head coaching job in Memphis. Fizdale said he is sort of a ”basketball romantic” and would like to have seen Wade retire in Miami. But he predicted after the player’s career ”his statue will be out front and (Wade) will be remembered as the great player that he should be.”
UP NEXT
Bulls: Return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Grizzlies: Memphis travels to Washington to face the Wizards on Wednesday night.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Knicks beat Bulls with big games from Anthony, Rose, Noah
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- To Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, it didn't matter much that they were playing their former team.
At this point, the New York Knicks just needed to beat somebody.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Rose and Noah had big games against Chicago, and the Knicks beat the short-handed Bulls 104-89 on Thursday night.
"Tonight's game was because it was the next game," Rose said. "We were desperate to win and I'm just happy that we got the win."
Rose scored 17 points in his return to Madison Square Garden after skipping the last game here, and Noah finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a season-high 19 points.
The Knicks bounced back from a loss at the buzzer in Philadelphia on Wednesday to win for the first time this season on the second night of back-to-back games.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 for the Bulls, who were missing star swingman Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine, all because of illness. They dropped their third straight.
Playing without starting forward Kristaps Porzingis, New York won for just the second time in 11 games, a much-needed victory after the mystery surrounding Rose - and then its second buzzer-beating loss of the month.
"I haven't been in situations like this too many times in my career, but I've definitely been in situations where there's been adversity and I think that today a lot of guys showed what they were made of," Noah said.
Rose went home to Chicago on Monday without telling the team, returned to practice the next day and said his absence was for family reasons. The Knicks fined him but put him back in the starting lineup and he has played well in both games since.
Rose was cheered during pregame introductions and then helped the Knicks race to an 8-0 lead. They pulled away by limiting Chicago to 14 points in the third quarter.
Butler and Mirotic both missed their second straight game. Valentine felt sick at the arena and was sent back to the hotel.
"We've got three guys out. We don't have the luxury of missing key guys," Wade said. "So hopefully Saturday, hopefully we don't have any more down. Hopefully Saturday we get at least one or two back."
The Bulls ended up giving little-used, little-known rookie Paul Zipser his first career start at forward. He had a season-high seven points in just his 11th appearance of the season.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Jerian Grant, traded to Chicago in the deal that brought Rose to New York, scored 14 points off the bench. ... Chicago was 3 for 18 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers.
Knicks: The Knicks are 1-7 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Porzingis missed three games recently with the Achilles problem, and coach Jeff Hornacek said the injury could have contributed to Porzingis being short on his jumpers Wednesday, including the airball that led to the 76ers' winning shot. Hornacek said Porzingis had soreness and stiffness Thursday but there was no tear or sign of serious injury.
ROSE'S RESPONSE
Rose said he didn't think much about how the crowd would greet him, saying he's been booed in Chicago, too.
"I'm used to it and if they did boo me tonight it's no hard feelings," Rose said. "I know this is sports and I know they're very passionate about their sports and like I said, I said sorry to my team, I apologized and that was something that will never happen again."
ZIPSER'S CHANCE
Zipser had played in just one of the Bulls' five games this month, 10 all season and his high game was three points. But coach Fred Hoiberg said when he told the forward from Germany's Bayern Munich that he would be starting, "He looked me right in the eye and said, 'I'll be ready, Coach.'"
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Chicago swept the series in 2015-16 for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
Knicks: Visit Toronto on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak to the Raptors.
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- To Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, it didn't matter much that they were playing their former team.
At this point, the New York Knicks just needed to beat somebody.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Rose and Noah had big games against Chicago, and the Knicks beat the short-handed Bulls 104-89 on Thursday night.
"Tonight's game was because it was the next game," Rose said. "We were desperate to win and I'm just happy that we got the win."
Rose scored 17 points in his return to Madison Square Garden after skipping the last game here, and Noah finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a season-high 19 points.
The Knicks bounced back from a loss at the buzzer in Philadelphia on Wednesday to win for the first time this season on the second night of back-to-back games.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 for the Bulls, who were missing star swingman Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine, all because of illness. They dropped their third straight.
Playing without starting forward Kristaps Porzingis, New York won for just the second time in 11 games, a much-needed victory after the mystery surrounding Rose - and then its second buzzer-beating loss of the month.
"I haven't been in situations like this too many times in my career, but I've definitely been in situations where there's been adversity and I think that today a lot of guys showed what they were made of," Noah said.
Rose went home to Chicago on Monday without telling the team, returned to practice the next day and said his absence was for family reasons. The Knicks fined him but put him back in the starting lineup and he has played well in both games since.
Rose was cheered during pregame introductions and then helped the Knicks race to an 8-0 lead. They pulled away by limiting Chicago to 14 points in the third quarter.
Butler and Mirotic both missed their second straight game. Valentine felt sick at the arena and was sent back to the hotel.
"We've got three guys out. We don't have the luxury of missing key guys," Wade said. "So hopefully Saturday, hopefully we don't have any more down. Hopefully Saturday we get at least one or two back."
The Bulls ended up giving little-used, little-known rookie Paul Zipser his first career start at forward. He had a season-high seven points in just his 11th appearance of the season.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Jerian Grant, traded to Chicago in the deal that brought Rose to New York, scored 14 points off the bench. ... Chicago was 3 for 18 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers.
Knicks: The Knicks are 1-7 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Porzingis missed three games recently with the Achilles problem, and coach Jeff Hornacek said the injury could have contributed to Porzingis being short on his jumpers Wednesday, including the airball that led to the 76ers' winning shot. Hornacek said Porzingis had soreness and stiffness Thursday but there was no tear or sign of serious injury.
ROSE'S RESPONSE
Rose said he didn't think much about how the crowd would greet him, saying he's been booed in Chicago, too.
"I'm used to it and if they did boo me tonight it's no hard feelings," Rose said. "I know this is sports and I know they're very passionate about their sports and like I said, I said sorry to my team, I apologized and that was something that will never happen again."
ZIPSER'S CHANCE
Zipser had played in just one of the Bulls' five games this month, 10 all season and his high game was three points. But coach Fred Hoiberg said when he told the forward from Germany's Bayern Munich that he would be starting, "He looked me right in the eye and said, 'I'll be ready, Coach.'"
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Chicago swept the series in 2015-16 for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
Knicks: Visit Toronto on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak to the Raptors.
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