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 The Bulls posted consecutive victories over the Brooklyn Nets and
Utah Jazz and are hoping they are about to go on an extended
late-season push. "Now we just have to focus on getting wins — you
get a nice win streak here and there, you can end up in the sixth
seed," Chicago center Taj Gibson told reporters. "You can't focus on
everybody else. You have to focus on yourself. The East is tight,
but you never know. Anything can happen." Sacramento has been
struggling but posted an 88-80 victory over the New York Knicks on
Sunday — just its third victory in 14 games. All-Star DeMarcus
Cousins had 24 points and 20 rebounds for his second 20-board effort
of the season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN California (Sacramento), CSN Chicago
 ABOUT THE KINGS (27-42): Sacramento's defensive showing against the
Knicks was a stunner when factoring in it was allowing an NBA-worst
109.6 points entering the contest. The 80 points given up represent
a season low for the Kings and New York scored 18 or fewer points in
three of the four quarters in a contest that wasn't aesthetically
pleasing. "It was not a stellar basketball game," Kings coach George
Karl told reporters. "But for us to get a win on the road is always
a happy place. This game had a lot of ugly to it, but it is a win."
[to top of second column] |
ABOUT THE BULLS (35-33): Center Pau Gasol (knee) has sat out the
past four games and Gibson stepped up against the Jazz with 15
points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double in the past seven
games. Gibson's contributions are timely but he made it clear he
doesn't care about getting credit for his strong play. "I'm just a
player who goes out there and does the right things for the team,"
Gibson told reporters. "I don't have any hidden agenda. I want to
see guys on my team succeed. I'm the biggest cheerleader on the
court. If I play a lot of minutes or don’t play a lot of minutes,
you have to just bring positive vibes."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Kings have dropped six straight games in Chicago and eight of
their past nine.
2. Bulls SF Doug McDermott had just seven points against Utah after
averaging 24.7 during the previous three games.
3. Sacramento C Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) has missed the past
two games.
PREDICTION: Bulls 111, Kings 99
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