|
 Chicago is without center Joakim Noah (shoulder), forward Nikola
Mirotic (abdomen) and guard Jimmy Butler (knee) for the time being,
and guard Derrick Rose (hamstring, day-to-day) joined the players in
street clothes on Wednesday. All-Star center Pau Gasol (illness) was
a game-time decision on Wednesday as well but battled through and
nearly pulled off a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and
nine assists in a 109-104 triumph over the Washington Wizards. The
Hawks are percentage points behind the Bulls in the battle for the
No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference but are moving in the opposite
direction with three consecutive losses. Atlanta has had three full
days off since Monday’s home loss to the Golden State Warriors to
iron out the kinks.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, CSN Chicago, FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE BULLS (30-26): Gibson and E’Twaun Moore led the way with
17 points apiece on Wednesday as Chicago balanced out the scoring
with the stars out. “Really, really proud of the guys for stepping
up and finding a way,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters.
“We've got four or five of our main guys out, our rotation guys, and
you have to have everybody step up and be ready to play. And that's
why you practice, that's why you put in the extra time - is for
opportunities and moments like this.” McDermott added 14 points and
is averaging 20 over the last three games.
[to top of second column] |
ABOUT THE HAWKS (31-27): Atlanta is having trouble executing at the
end of games since the All-Star break, resulting in three tight
losses. The Hawks went into the fourth quarter with a lead before
falling 115-111 at home to Miami on Feb. 19 and lost in
double-overtime the next night to the Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta
battled all the way back from a 23-point deficit against the
NBA-best Warriors on Monday but fell apart down the stretch in a
102-92 loss that dropped the team to 0-3 on a five-game homestand.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hawks G/F Kent Bazemore is averaging four points on 22.9 percent
shooting in the last five games.
2. Moore is averaging 20.5 points on 18-of-30 from the field in the
last two contests.
3. Atlanta took the first two meetings this season by an average of
19 points.
PREDICTION: Hawks 106, Bulls 99
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