Bobcats-Bulls Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Jan 27 2013 5:40PM

Although they've had their share of big wins lately, the Chicago Bulls haven't been able to take care of business against lesser opponents.

It might help if they can get their All-Star forward back in the lineup.

The Bulls will try to win for the seventh time in nine games on Monday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats, who snapped a lengthy losing streak in their last trip to Chicago.

While Chicago (26-17) has moved one-half game ahead of Indiana atop the Central Division with its recent surge, its struggles against teams with losing records continued in a 86-73 loss at Washington on Saturday.

The Bulls have won five of their last seven games against teams with winning records by an average of 8.4 points, including a pair of victories at Eastern Conference leaders Miami and New York.

However, they've won only five of eight against losing clubs by a slim plus-0.7 margin of victory. Two of those wins have come by three or fewer points, and all three losses have been by double digits.

"You gotta get ready for everybody," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "When you start taking shortcuts, the results aren't gonna be good."

Chicago could get a boost with the return of Luol Deng, who is expected to be a game-time decision after missing five games because of a hamstring injury.

The loss of Deng, who was recently named to the East All-Star team, has been eased by the strong play of backup Jimmy Butler. The second-year forward has averaged 14.2 points and more than 45 minutes per game starting in Deng's place.

Deng has averaged 22.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds in his last three games against the Bobcats.

The Bulls, though, look to bounce back offensively after scoring their second-lowest point total, including season lows with 11 points in the third quarter and 29 in the second half on Saturday.

Nate Robinson was the only player to score in double figures with 19, giving him 41 in his last two games.

Joakim Noah narrowly missed a triple-double with nine points, 17 rebounds and a career high-tying 10 assists. He has averaged 16.0 rebounds his last four games and is among the top five in the league.

The Bulls had averaged 99.4 points on 47.7 percent shooting in five straight wins over the Bobcats before finishing with 81 and 35.1, respectively, as visiting Charlotte pulled out a 10-point win to snap their 18-game losing streak on Dec. 31.

Starting guards Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson combined for 34 points, while Ramon Sessions and former Bull Ben Gordon teamed for 30 off the bench.

Charlotte, though, is a league-worst 11-32 with just three wins in 12 games since, but will try to capture consecutive victories for the first time since Nov. 19-21.

The team's backcourt is also playing well heading into this meeting after totaling 81 points as the Bobcats shot a season-high 50.7 percent in a 102-101 win over short-handed Minnesota on Saturday. Sessions has 40 points on 17 of 27 (63.0 percent) shooting in his last two games, while Walker has averaged 23.7 while hitting 10 of 15 from 3-point range in his last three.

"(Walker) is the face of our whole deal," coach Mike Dunlap said. "He's getting more comfortable as our quarterback."

The Bobcats have averaged 87.1 points in their last seven losses, but have won three of four when scoring over 100.

That isn't likely to be easy against a Chicago team that hasn't allowed an opponent to surpass the century mark in regulation in nine straight contests.

Butler scores 19 to lead Bulls past Bobcats, 93-85

Posted Jan 29 2013 12:19AM

CHICAGO (AP) Luol Deng's return couldn't slow down the latest offensive outburst from Jimmy Butler.

Butler scored a career-high 19 points and Nate Robinson added 15 as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Bobcats 93-85 on Monday night.

Deng returned to the Bulls' lineup after missing five games with a hamstring injury, and scored 12 points in 31 minutes. The Bulls won three of five without Deng as his absence was eased by the strong play of Butler, who returned to a reserve role.

After Deng injured his hamstring he sent a message that Butler embraced.

"I think it hit home the most when Luol came up to me and said, `You can do this. This is your time, step in and keep playing the way you have been playing.' When you hear that from an All-Star, from Derrick (Rose) and Jo (Joakim Noah) that's big. I have been here for almost two years now - I think that's what I need to hear," Butler said.

"The confidence comes from my teammates, if I have an off night then they're still going to be there supporting me ... It's not going to be like this every night but I have the best teammates, it makes it easy."

It was third time in the past six games that Butler set or tied his career-high in points and his defense has also taken notice after slowing down Kobe Bryant in a win against the Lakers on Jan. 21.

"Jimmy is playing great for us right now. We need that. He just has to keep growing and get better. He plays so hard. He's been patient and he's been working hard on his game," Deng said. "I'm just so happy for him that because it takes time to understand the NBA game. There are still a lot of areas he can get better at but what he's shown so far is just his hard work and he's going to keep getting better."

Noah finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists to help Central Division-leading Chicago win for the seventh time in its last nine games.

Kemba Walker and Ben Gordon led the Bobcats with 18 points apiece. Charlotte has lost nine of its last 11 games.

Chicago pulled away late in the third quarter behind Robinson. After Walker's jumper erased a 14-point deficit and tied the score at 55, the Bulls scored 13 straight points. Robinson sparked the run with a pair of 3-pointers then had a steal to set up a dunk by Butler to put Chicago up 68-55.

"When things weren't going their way on the other end (offense), they did a solid job of defending throughout the entire game," said Gordon.

Robinson wasn't done. He made a pull-up 3, then had a steal and layup to give Chicago a 75-61 lead.

Charlotte got it within six late in the fourth quarter, but Carlos Boozer put the game away with a dunk over Bismack Biyombo with 1:25 left.

"We got ourselves back in it. A two possession game when the money was on the line and a couple of unfortunate turnovers cost us the game," said Bobcats head coach Mike Dunlap.

Jeff Adrien had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first NBA start. Gordon scored 15 points in the second half.

Leading 23-20 early in the second quarter, Chicago extended its lead with a 17-6 run. Butler had six points in the span and Deng made a 3 to make it 40-26.

Kirk Hinrich's 3-pointer as time expired in the second quarter gave Chicago a 49-40 halftime lead. Butler led the Bulls with 10 points in the opening two quarters, and Boozer had nine. Walker led the Bobcats with 11.

Charlotte was able to erase Chicago's 14-point lead as Gordon's jumper got the Bobcats to 54-53 and Walker's jumper tied the score at 55 with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

The Bulls have won five of their last seven games against teams with winning records, including two victories at Eastern Conference leaders Miami and New York. However, they have struggled to beat teams with sub-.500 records. Their latest poor showing came in a loss to the Wizards on Saturday night.

Charlotte pulled out a 10-point win against the Bulls to snap their 18-game losing streak on New Year's Eve.

Adrien, called up from the D-League in December, replaced Hakim Warrick in Charlotte's starting lineup.

Deng said his hamstring felt fine after the game.

"Honestly, I was a little worried. I haven't gone full speed like that. With the game I was worried about the change in speed so I am happy I didn't have any setbacks," said Deng.

NOTES: Before the game, Thibodeau wouldn't comment if Derrick Rose is ready to return to full practices. "He's coming along, he still has a ways to go," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who has been discreet on the timetable of Rose's return. ... Boozer finished with 13 points.

Notebook: Bulls 93, Bobcats 85

Kent McDill, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:41 PM - Updated Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:41 PM

THE FACTS: Replaced by returning All-Star Luol Deng in the starting lineup, forward Jimmy Butler led the Chicago Bulls to a 93-85 payback victory over the visiting Charlotte Bobcats Monday. Butler had a career-high 19 points off the bench as the Bulls avenged the New Year's Eve loss to the Bobcats. Joakim Noah had 13 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots for the Bulls. Kemba Walker and former Bull Ben Gordon had 18 points for the Bobcats.

THE FACTS II: Deng returned after missing five games with a sore hamstring. He scored 12 points in 31 minutes, while Carlos Boozer added 13 points for the Bulls. Jeff Adrien started in place of Hakim Warrick and had a career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first start for the Bobcats.

THE STAT: Bulls backup guard Nate Robinson, who is 5-foot-9, had a career-high three blocked shots to go with his 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

QUOTABLE I: "Nate's energy was good. He knocked down a couple of shots. A couple probably could have been a little better, but that's Nate."
-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, discussing the performance of Bulls point guard Robinson.

THE STAT II: Bulls center Noah has grabbed 15 or more rebounds for each of the last four games, the first time he has done that in his career.

QUOTABLE II: "He's been on a rebounding tear. Last week or two, he's been a monster. Dennis Rodman-type stuff. He's not saving any for us to get."
-- Bulls forward Boozer, talking about Noah.

TURNING POINT: After trailing by nine points at halftime, the Bobcats forged a 55-55 tie with 3:36 left in the third quarter. The Bulls scored the final eight points of the period to build a 63-55 lead going into the fourth quarter, the scored the first five of the fourth quarter.

INJURY UPDATE: Word from Bulls practice Monday morning was that point guard Derrick Rose will participate in full practices sometime this week after missing the entire season following ACL surgery.

HOT: Butler was seven for 10 from the field. He was credited with 31:14 of playing time, slightly more than Deng's 31:02.

NOT: The Bobcats had a hard time scoring. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was two for nine from the field, and Walker made just six of 17 attempts from the field.

QUOTABLE III: "They are more experienced than us in so many aspects of the game."
-- Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap.

GOOD MOVE: The big question going into the game was how much Butler would play with Deng back in the lineup. But Bulls coach Thibodeau played Butler and Deng together for big chunks of time. He also found large chunks of playing time for Taj Gibson, spelling Boozer and Robinson, who shared point guard time with Kirk Hinrich.

BAD MOVE: Beating the Bulls on New Year's Eve at the United Center probably made it hard for the Bobcats to repeat the maneuver Monday.

ROOKIE WATCH: Kidd-Gilchrist had to play against the rejuvenated Deng and the defensive-minded Butler the entire game, which made it hard for him to function offensively.

NOTABLE: The Bulls begin a six-game road swing this week, and play 10 of their next 12 on the road... the Bobcats started their five-game road trip against the Bulls, and play eight of their next 10 on the road... the Bulls have won four straight at home, their longest such streak of the season... the Bulls blocked a season-high 14 shots... Robinson became the fourth point guard this season to have at least three rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in a single game, joining Kyrie Irving, Rajon Rondo and Walker.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, @ Milwaukee Wednesday, @ Brooklyn Friday, @ Atlanta Saturday. For the Bobcats, @ San Antonio Wednesday, @ Houston Saturday, @ Miami Monday.

• Bobcats: Mullens
• Bulls: Rose

• Bobcats: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #59 Gary Zielinski, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 21308
• Duration: 2:18