Boozer, Deng help Bulls beat Bucks

[December 29, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Carlos Boozer had 24 points and nine rebounds, Luol Deng scored 24 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 90-77 on Tuesday night.

Derrick Rose had 18 points, 12 assists and six assists for Chicago, who has won 11 of its last 13 games.

John Salmons scored 18 points for the Bucks, who shot a season-low 32.1 percent.

Trailing 45-44 at the half, the Bulls opened the second half by outscoring the Bucks 9-0. Rose started the run with a 3-pointer and had a basket to make it 52-45.

Chicago pulled away for good midway through the fourth quarter by going on a 16-4 run. Leading 69-66, Rose started it with a jumper and Chicago got consecutive 3-pointers from Rose and Kyle Korver to make it 86-72.

The Bucks, already missing starting point guard Brandon Jennings with a broken foot, learned before the game they would be without backup Earl Boykins. Boykins was suspended by the NBA for one game without pay for making intentional contact with a referee in Monday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks led 45-44 at the half despite trailing by as many as 12 in the first quarter and shooting 32 percent in the half. Salmons got the Bucks back by scoring eight points in the second quarter. He was 6 for 7 from the free throw line in the first half, as a team they were 13 for 17.

Boozer got off to a fast start, scoring eight points in the first quarter, but was held to two in the second. Deng led Chicago with nine points in the half.

Corey Maggette scored 15 points off the bench and Luc Mbah a Moute added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

NOTES: Bucks F Drew Gooden missed his third straight game with left plantar fasciitis. ... Chicago opened a four-game homestand. ... Bulls forward Taj Gibson blocked five shots.

[Associated Press]

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