|
 Their next game likely will be much more difficult, especially if
their star point guard is unable to play again.
Luol Deng had 19 points, Joakim Noah scored a season-high 18 and the
Chicago Bulls overcame Rose's absence to beat Toronto 96-80 for
their first road win of the season.
Noah was 7 for 10 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free-throw
line. He also had nine rebounds and three assists.
"He looked great tonight," teammate Carlos Boozer said. "From the
opening tip he was aggressive, attacking the boards. As he's getting
his rhythm back, he's looking better and better."
Deng also had nine rebounds as Chicago earned its third consecutive
win. Kirk Hinrich started in place of Rose and scored 12 points,
helping the Bulls improve to 1-3 away from home.
"I thought Kirk did a great job of running the team, had a very
balanced scoring attack," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
"With Derrick out, we know we have to play a certain way, and we
need everybody," Thibodeau added.
Boozer said the Bulls have "ultimate confidence" in Hinrich, who
started much of last season while Rose was recovering from left knee
surgery.
"Kirk's a great player, man," Boozer said. "He's underrated. He does
a great job running our team, gets us in our sets. He hit some big
shots in the third and fourth quarter for us, too."
Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP, was sidelined by a right hamstring injury
that knocked him out in the fourth quarter of Monday's home win over
Cleveland. He will be re-evaluated before Chicago hosts 9-0 Indiana
on Saturday.
"We can't feel too good about ourselves, we know how good Indiana
is," Thibodeau said. "We're going to have to play tough tomorrow
night."
Hinrich said he was looking forward to a rematch with the Pacers,
who beat the Bulls 97-80 in Indianapolis on Nov. 6.
"It'll be a great test," Hinrich said. "They're playing as good as
anybody in the league right now."
[to top of second column] |
The Bulls (4-6) never trailed while defeating
Toronto for the first time in three meetings. They have held
their opponent to 81 points or fewer in each of their four
victories this season.
Boozer and Jimmy Butler had 14 points apiece for Chicago, which
avoided its first 0-4 road start in five seasons. The Bulls had
lost at Philadelphia, Miami and Indiana before winning north of
the border.
"It was a good road win," Boozer said.
DeMar DeRozan matched his career high with 37 points and Rudy
Gay had 20 points and nine rebounds as the Raptors lost for the
fifth time in seven games. No other Toronto player reached
double figures.
Even DeRozan's performance was little consolation to frustrated
Raptors coach Dwane Casey.
"There's nothing redeeming about tonight," Casey said, calling
it a "stinker."
DeRozan connected on 10 of his 13 field-goal attempts in the
second half and finished with four 3-pointers, one shy of his
career best.
"Some of those shots DeRozan made I thought were defended well,"
Thibodeau said. "He got the hot hand and he made some big
shots."
Deng scored nine points in the first and Boozer had eight as
Chicago took a 27-16 lead after one. The Raptors made just six
of 22 field-goal attempts in the opening quarter.
Toronto's shooting was even worse in the second, with the
Raptors hitting on five of 21 attempts. Taj Gibson scored six
points for Chicago as the Bulls carried a 45-31 lead into
halftime.
Hinrich, Deng and Butler each made 3-pointers as the Bulls made
it 60-35 by opening the second half with a 15-4 run, forcing
Toronto to call timeout at 6:57. Chicago led 74-54 after three.
NOTES: This was the first in a stretch of six of seven at home
for Toronto. The Raptors entered play Friday tied with Cleveland
and Washington with an NBA-high six road games. ... The Bulls
outrebounded the Raptors 48-43. ... Saturday's game against
Indiana marks Chicago's first back-to-back this season.
[Associated
Press; IAN HARRISON, ]
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