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 The Bulls added 21 turnovers to the 41 they committed in the first
two losses and the Hawks turned defense into transition offense for
a 103-88 victory Friday night.
Guard Jeff Teague had 19 points and nine assists, while center Al
Horford scored 18 points and forward Kent Bazemore broke a slump
with 17 points.
"We came out with a lot of energy defensively," Horford said. "For
us it was a must win and our defense carried us."
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak, all at home, for the
Hawks (32-27) and was just their second in the past seven games.
"It was a big win," Bazemore said. "This is the way we need to play.
I think for 48 minutes we were consistent on defense. We turned them
over and got out on transition."
The Chicago turnovers led to 27 Hawks points as Atlanta won handily
despite making just 7 of 34 3-point shots.
"That's all we talked about for two days was taking care of the
basketball," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "You don't give yourself
a chance to win when you have careless turnovers like that."
Forward Doug McDermont had 20 points for the Bulls (30-27) and
center Paul Gasol had his 33rd double-double of the season, grabbing
17 rebounds and scoring 16 points despite 6-for-22 shooting.
It was the 12th straight game in which the Bulls, who were without
guard Derrick Rose (hamstring), had allowed at least 100 points and
they are 4-8 in the stretch despite a three-game winning streak
coming into this game.
"I don't get it," Hoiberg said of his team's performance. "We had
three good games and made a lot of progress. We took a step back."
Atlanta had 28 assists on 44 baskets and held Chicago to 36.4
percent shooting.
The Hawks led by 19 points in the second quarter of their 120-105
victory over the Bulls in Atlanta on Jan. 9 and were up by as many
as 15 at the same juncture this time despite woeful 3-point
shooting.
The Bulls, though, closed the first half on an 11-3 run to close
within 51-44 at intermission as McDermont came off the bench to
score 10 points in the second quarter.
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Neither team could hit from behind the 3-point arc in the first
half, with the Hawks going 2-for-20 and the Bulls 1-for-10.
The Hawks recouped to start the third quarter 3-for-5 from long
range and were up 72-54 before the Bulls went on an 11-1 run. The
Atlanta lead was back up to 79-67 going into the final quarter,
though, and kept growing.
Forward Paul Millsap had 13 rebounds to go with 12 points as the
Hawks dominated the boards in the early going.
The Bulls out-rebounded the Hawks in the second half, but their
turnover woes continued.
"We didn't shoot well, but we were focused all night and that's what
we need," Hawks forward Kyle Korver said. "I thought our focus on
defense was really great."
NOTES: Bulls G Derrick Rose sat out his second straight game because
of tendinitis in his right hamstring and is doubtful for Saturday at
home against Portland at the end of the back-to-back. "If he feels
like today, than no," coach Fred Hoiberg said when asked if Rose
would likely play against the Trail Blazers. Rose is averaging 26
points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 57.4 percent shooting since
the All-Star break. ... With G/F Joe Johnson headed to Miami when he
clears waivers on Saturday, the Hawks will have to look elsewhere to
fill the roster spot opened by the loss of C Tiago Splitter, who had
season-ending hip surgery Thursday in New York. ... C Edy Tavares
and G/F Lamar Patterson were assigned by the Hawks to Austin of the
NBA Development League for a pair of weekend games.
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