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 The Bulls, who led by as many as 15 points, had just enough to
hold off the Raptors 94-92 to win their fourth game in a row. The
loss snapped the Raptors' three-game winning streak.
Forward Carlos Boozer led the Bulls (28-25) with 20 points. He also
grabbed eight rebounds in a game that featured seven technical
fouls, four on the Bulls.
"It wasn't a playoff atmosphere because of technicals, it was a
playoff atmosphere because it was definitely a physical game, high
intensity," said Bulls center Joakim Noah, who scored eight points
and dished out 13 assists. "We know what we're playing for, and it
was a big one for us."
Guard DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors (29-25) with 32 points but could
not make a two shots late in the game.
"He's our go-to guy through the game," Raptors coach Dwane Casey
said. "He gave us 32 points, and he's going to grow into that role
of closing games, and that's something that he has to learn how to
do."
DeRozan's shot with 2.9 seconds to play was blocked by guard/forward
Jimmy Butler, who had 16 points, six assists and three blocks.
"DeRozan is a load, and I thought Jimmy defended him on several
plays as well as you can," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Guard D.J. Augustin, who opened the season with Toronto, and guard
Kirk Hinrich each scored 19 points for the Bulls, while
forward/center Taj Gibson had 10 points before fouling out. Forward
Mike Dunleavy contributed 11 rebounds and two points.
"Mike didn't shoot well, but the 11 rebounds are huge," Thibodeau
said.
Guard Kyle Lowry added 16 points for the Raptors before fouling out
with 2.4 seconds to play with the Bulls leading by one point. Butler
made one of two free throws, and DeRozan missed on a 43-foot
desperation attempt at the buzzer.
"It was a big win, they were ahead of us in the standings, and we
wanted to go into the break playing well and come out of the break
playing well," Hinrich said. "It seemed like we got ahead and they
really cranked it up. Played hard and physical, and it seemed like
to me that they were trying to be conscious of being physical and
trying to match our toughness."
Toronto reserve guard Greivis Vasquez, who scored seven points and
committed four fouls, added, "We played a hard game, but you have to
give them credit, they beat us and they played well. We played
physical, too."
It was the first game for the Bulls since the All-Star break, while
the Raptors played a road game Tuesday, defeating the Washington
Wizards 103-93.
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The teams split their four-game season series, each winning twice on
the road.
The Raptors were down by 11 after Augustin opened the fourth quarter
with a 3-pointer, but Toronto reduced its deficit to seven when
forward Tyler Hansbrough made a hook shot with 8:23 to play.
The Raptors cut the lead to five on a jump shot by DeRozan. Augustin
was called for a technical foul after his layup put the lead back to
seven. DeRozan made the technical foul. Toronto retained the ball
and got the lead down to four on a pull-up jumper by guard/forward
Terrence Ross, who had nine points on the night.
Augustin answered with a 3-pointer, and Chicago led 89-82. Lowry
made two free throws to reduce the lead to five, then hit a 3-point
shot to bring the Raptors to within two with 1:30 to play. DeRozan
missed a shot that could have tied it. Hinrich then hit a jumper to
give the Bulls a four-point lead.
Forward Amir Johnson scored on a layup and made the free throw as
Gibson fouled out, and Chicago led by one point with 34.9 seconds
left. Butler blocked DeRozan's jump shot with 2.9 seconds left.
The Bulls led by 15 points in the third, but the Raptors finished
the quarter with a 9-2 surge to cut the margin to 70-62.
"I do like the way we fought back," Casey said, "but that's not the
way to live in the NBA. That was a playoff game, something our
players have to get used to, that type of intensity, that type of
physicality."
NOTES: The Bulls signed F Jarvis Varnado to a 10-day contract from
the Iowa Energy, their NBA Development League affiliate. He
previously played with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. "We
followed him in college, and of course in the D-League, Boston and
Miami," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He's gotten better. He has a lot
of the qualities that we're looking for." ... G DeMar DeRozan
entered the All-Star break averaging 22.4 points a game. According
to Elias, only two other Raptors, G Vince Carter (three times,
including a club record 27.6 in 2000-01) and F Chris Bosh (five
times), entered the break with a scoring average at least that high
with at least 20 games played. ... The Raptors continue a three-game
homestand Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. ... The Bulls
return to the United Center on Friday to play the Denver Nuggets.
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