|
 Center Pau Gasol has led the way for Chicago of late, averaging 20.2
points and 12.2 rebounds in his last five games while recording
double-doubles in seven of nine. The Bulls look to take advantage of
the Pelicans (6-16) and Philadelphia (1-23) on Monday as their
five-game homestand continues. New Orleans has played .500
basketball the last 10 games after rallying to edge Washington
107-105 on Friday night for its second win in three contests. The
Bulls will have to contend with All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who
has registered double-doubles in eight of his last 10 contests.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (6-16): Guard Tyreke Evans was shut out in the
loss against Boston on Monday and rebounded to score a game-high 27
in Friday's victory while draining 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
Backcourt partner Eric Gordon also scored 15 after coming up empty
Monday, but the Pelicans gave up 100 points for the ninth
consecutive game. Forward Ryan Anderson missed the last game due to
illness and center Kendrick Perkins was available after sitting out
17 games with a right pectoral injury, but did not play.
ABOUT THE BULLS (12-8): Chicago battled through a rough shooting
night (35.6 percent) and scored just 19 points in the fourth quarter
before edging the Clippers. Leading scorer Jimmy Butler (20.9
points) has missed all seven of his 3-point attempts the last two
contests while Nikola Mirotic has made 5-of-24 from beyond the arc
his past four outings. Derrick Rose is still searching for his
shooting touch consistently (36.3 percent from the field), but
scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter Thursday.
[to top of second column] |
BUZZER BEATERS
1. After missing seven of the previous eight due to a hamstring
injury, Chicago G Aaron Brooks had 10 points in a season-high 21
minutes Thursday.
2. New Orleans G Jrue Holiday, who scored 19 off the bench Friday,
has made 7-of-11 from 3-point range the past three contests.
3. The Bulls won each of two meetings last season, scoring 107
points in both.
PREDICTION: Bulls 102, Pelicans 89
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
