Boozer scores 18 as Bulls rout Hornets 90-67

[February 09, 2012]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Carlos Boozer scored 18 points and the Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight game while nearly holding New Orleans to a franchise low in points during a 90-67 rout Wednesday night.

Joakim Noah had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. Taj Gibson scored 14 and Kyle Korver 12.

Star guard Derrick Rose started only two days after leaving Chicago's previous game with back spasms. He played 22 minutes and finished with six points, six assists and five rebounds, but the Bulls would have been fine without him.

Chris Kaman scored 17 for the Hornets, who have lost seven straight and 22 of 24. New Orleans made its last six shots, including Marco Belinelli's 3-pointer with a second left, to narrowly surpass the club low of 65 points.

The Hornets have usually maintained a hustling and relatively effective defense even as they have lost game after game, but simply wilted against the Bulls, who had seven layups in the third quarter alone. The Bulls' lead grew to 27 in the period when Rose fed Noah for a fast-break layup.

New Orleans shot 6 of 24 in the period (25 percent) and trailed 70-46 heading into the anticlimactic final quarter, when Chicago's lead grew as large as 88-60 with 1:19 left.

Chicago finished shooting 46 percent (39 of 85), outscoring New Orleans 58-40 in the paint and 12-1 on fast breaks. The Bulls outrebounded New Orleans 49-39.

Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau is renowned for his defensive acumen, which spelled trouble for a Hornets squad that came into the game 27th in the NBA in scoring, with an average of just below 88 points. The Hornets finished shooting 37 percent (28 of 75) and trailed throughout for the third time in nine games.

Chicago scored the first nine points of the game while struggling New Orleans missed its first five shots. The Bulls' lead grew to 13 when Noah picked off Kaman's pass and raced the other way for an uncontested dunk.

Kaman helped more than he hurt, though, scoring 10 of New Orleans' 14 points in the first quarter.

Chicago built its lead up to 15 on Gibson's fast-break dunk while Rose was on the bench, and the lead remained in double digits for the remainder of the period. The halftime score stood at 44-31 after Belinelli's layup.

NOTES: Kaman hit a jumper at the first quarter horn that would have given him 12 points at that juncture, but it was reviewed on replay and disallowed. ... The Bulls improved to 5-2 on their nine-game road trip, which concludes with games at Charlotte on Friday and Boston on Sunday. ... The Bulls have won seven straight against New Orleans and will seek a fourth straight season sweep Feb. 28 in Chicago. ... The Hornets last defeated Chicago on March 17, 2008, in New Orleans. ... Jarrett Jack returned from a three-game absence (sore left knee) and started at point guard. He played nearly 28 minutes and had four points and three assists. ... Actor Will Ferrell announced the starting lineups, adding fabricated personal notes about each player. For example, Ferrell said the 6-foot-9, 266-pound Boozer, a 10-year veteran, "still lives with his mother." ... During the game, Ferrell sat courtside with actors Dylan McDermott and Zach Galifianakis, while actor Jesse Eisenberg sat on the baseline. ... The Hornets have scored as few as 65 points twice in team history, once in a victory over Miami on Dec. 20, 2000, and once in a loss to Boston on March 13, 2003.

[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]

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