After Big Trade, Bulls Beat Cavs

[March 07, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Ben Gordon and Luol Deng scored 23 points apiece, and the Chicago Bulls overcame 39 points from LeBron James to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-96 Thursday night.

The Bulls went on a 17-point run early in the third quarter to grab a 66-53 lead, and Gordon scored nine straight during a 51-second burst late in the period to make it a 17-point game. That was enough to offset another outstanding effort by James.

Cleveland's superstar made it look easy again after stealing the show in New York the previous night with 50 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds during a 119-105 victory, a performance that left the crowd chanting "MVP!"

He left the Chicago audience in awe, too, but left the building with a loss.

The Cavaliers got 15 points from Devin Brown and 14 from Wally Szczerbiak.

Former Bull Ben Wallace had a quiet night. He finished with two points and 10 rebounds in his first appearance at the United Center and second against Chicago since being traded to Cleveland for Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden in a three-team deal.

The Bulls outscored the Cavaliers 34-16 in the third quarter with Gordon, Deng and Hughes leading the way.

Deng had eight in the period, while Hughes scored seven of his 12 during that 17-point run.

Gordon did his damage during a 51-second stretch late in the quarter, turning an eight-point lead into an 80-63 advantage. He hit a 3-pointer and continued with a twisting layup in transition. He got fouled and hit the free throw to complete the three-point play. Then, he pulled up for another 3-pointer after Szczerbiak missed a wild fadeaway and the Bulls maintained control the rest of the way.

Rookie Joakim Noah had arguably his best game, grabbing a career-high 20 rebounds while scoring 13 points.

Notes: Bulls F Tyrus Thomas would not reveal his reasons for skipping Wednesday's practice, but said a recent reduction in playing time had nothing to do with it. Thomas was a no-show after playing just under nine foul-plagued minutes in Tuesday's win over Memphis, drawing a two-game suspension from the team. "That wasn't the reason for me missing practice," he said. Thomas said he had a "nice, long conversation" with interim coach Jim Boylan that "broke some barriers." ... Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan picked up a technical foul late in the second quarter, after Joakim Noah was called for offensive interference.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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