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 The Bulls will provide a much stiffer test after holding the Boston
Celtics to 35.7 percent from the floor in running their winning
streak to six straight on Thursday. Chicago is coming together after
an inconsistent start to the campaign and will get a chance to show
the improvement is real as they begin a stretch of 13 of 17 on the
road with Atlanta. The Hawks' offense comes and goes of late but was
in top form on Thursday, when they scored 33 fast-break points and
shot 53.3 percent from the field. Atlanta had dropped three of the
previous four games while trying to figure out how to deploy its
three point guards.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE BULLS (22-12): Chicago is still missing center Joakim
Noah, but Pau Gasol does not seem to need any help in the middle.
Gasol delivered 17 points and 18 rebounds in the win over the
Celtics on Thursday and posted a double-double in each of the last
three games. Gasol is getting plenty of support from Jimmy Butler,
who matched his career high of 10 assists in each of the last two
games and is averaging 28.8 points over the last five.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (22-15): Atlanta starting point guard Jeff Teague is
averaging 3.8 assists and 3.2 turnovers in the last five games and
was limited to 23 or fewer minutes in each of the last three
contests. Backup Dennis Schroder was held out of games at Houston
and New York as the team took a look at Shelvin Mack in the backup
role, but came back in the last two games. Schroder responded with
totals of 21 points and 14 assists in 44 minutes in those two
contests.
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Noah is not making the trip but could return as soon as next
week.
2. Hawks G/F Kent Bazemore is averaging 20.3 points over the last
four games.
3. Atlanta took two of the three meetings last season.
PREDICTION: Hawks 106, Bulls 102
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