Chicago Bulls : : : 2008.09 Preseason
Bulls finish 2008.09 preseason at 4-4
Nocioni, Hinrich lead Bulls past Bucks
Andres Nocioni scored nine of his 26 points in overtime, and Kirk Hinrich had 25 points to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bulls 112-104 on Oct. 24 in the exhibition finale for both teams. The Bulls (4-4) led 54-35 at halftime and 78-66 entering the final quarter, but the Bucks (1-1) used a 20-4 run to take an 86-82 lead to make things interesting and force the extra session.
Derrick Rose, the former Memphis star drafted first overall by the Bulls, left in the first quarter because of a strained right hip flexor, but is expected to play Tuesday night in the regular-season opener. He was hurt driving for a layup. Chicago's Ben Gordon (jammed left big toe), guard Larry Hughes (dislocated right shoulder) and forward Luol Deng (sore right toe) missed the game.
Game Info | Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights 
Bulls hang on for victory over T-Wolves
Larry Hughes scored 21 points before leaving the game with a dislocated right shoulder, and the Bulls beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 85-75 on Oct. 22. Chicago raced to a 22-point lead early in the second quarter behind a 29-4 run spanning more than 10 minutes, then had to grind out its third preseason victory in the last four games.
Bulls No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose scored 17 points after a 30-point performance against Dallas the night before, Andres Nocioni added 12 points and Luol Deng chipped in 10. Al Jefferson scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota, which lost its Target Center preseason debut.
Game Info | Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap 
| Luol Deng | Vinny Del Negro
Rose scores 30 points, leads Bulls to comeback win
Rookie Derrick Rose scored 30 points, including the go-ahead basket with 41.5 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls rallied from a 23-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-105 on Oct. 21. Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni added 14 points each for the Bulls (2-4). Rose, the first overall pick in the draft, went 13-for-18 from the field and had seven assists. Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, Gerald Green had 19 and Josh Howard added 18 for Dallas (4-3).
Game Info | Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap | Derrick Rose | Vinny Del Negro
Chuck Swirsky Game Preview | Joakim Noah | Asst. Coach Del Harris
Williams hurt, but Jazz hold on for victory
The Bulls cut a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit down to five in the final minute but could not overcome the visiting Jazz in an 88-80 preseason loss on Oct. 18. Tyrus Thomas posted 15 points and 14 rebounds to lead Chicago. Derrick Rose started and scored 11 points in 40 minutes. The Bulls played without guard Ben Gordon, who was out with a jammed right toe.
Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Jazz, now 3-3. Deron Williams left the game after falling awkwardly and spraining his left ankle. Williams had X-rays, which were negative, but he didn't return to the game.
Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap
Gordon sparks Bulls past Jazz in Champaign
Ben Gordon scored 23 points and Andres Nocioni added 20 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 108-105 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Oct. 17. Luol Deng and Derrick Rose each added 14 points to help the Bulls to their first victory in four exhibition games, this one played at Assembly Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois. Carlos Boozer was 8-for-12 from the field and finished with 21 points, Mehmet Okur scored 17 points, and Paul Millsap added 16 for the Jazz (2-3).
Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap | Asst. Coach Bob Ociepka
Bulls edged by Timberwolves
Despite 20 points and eight rebounds from Drew Gooden, the Bulls absorbed a 96-86 home loss to Minnesota on Oct. 14 and remained winless in the preseason. Andres Nocioni had 18 off the bench and forward Luol Deng added 15. The Bulls (0-3) pulled within two points with about three minutes to play on Nocioni's 3-pointer, but managed just one field goal the rest of the way as Minnesota closed with an 11-2 run.
Corey Brewer scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, and Minnesota shook off poor early shooting to win. The Timberwolves (3-1) made just five of 20 shots in the opening quarter but ended up with six players in double figures. Al Jefferson scored 13 points, Rashad McCants had 12, forward Ryan Gomes added 11 and forwards Craig Smith and Kevin Love each scored 10.
Recap | Box Score | Video Highlights
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap | Drew Gooden |
Roger Powell
Bulls fall to Pacers in Ft. Wayne
Tyrus Thomas had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Aaron Gray added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls (0-2), but Chicago faded late in a 102-95 preseason loss to the host Pacers on Oct. 11. Rookie Derrick Rose had 13 points and six assists.
Rose made a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to cut Indiana's lead to 95-92, but Ford responded with a three-point play at the other end with 31 seconds left to put the Pacers in control for good. T.J. Ford scored 18 points for the Pacers (1-1), who bounced back from a 105-71 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday for their first preseason victory.
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap | Vinny Del Negro Quotes
Thabo Sefolosha Quotes |
Bernie Bickerstaff Quotes | Jim O'Brien Quotes
Mavericks defeat Bulls as preseason tips off
The Bulls charged back from a 19-point second-quarter deficit but could draw no closer than six in a 110-102 preseason loss to the visiting Mavericks on Oct. 9. Rookie Derrick Rose, last spring's No. 1 draft pick, played nearly 27 minutes and scored 10 points in Chicago's preseason opener. Luol Deng, Aaron Gray and Darius Washington paced the Bulls with 14 points each, while Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes each added 11.
Gerald Green scored 18 points to lead six Dallas players in double figures . The Mavericks (2-0) never trailed, using an 11-1 run in the first quarter to establish an early edge. Josh Howard scored six points during that span and finished with 10. Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Antoine Wright and Jose Barea each had 11 and Brandon Bass added 10.
Audio: Chuck Swirsky Game Recap | Derrick Rose Quotes | Aaron Gray Quotes
