Chicago (1-0) at Orlando (0-0) 7:00 pm EST
ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Kirk Hinrich and the
defensive-minded Chicago Bulls aim to spoil another home opener
when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Hinrich scored 26 points and Chris Duhon - who made 7-of-8
shots, including three 3-pointers - added 20 off the bench in 16
minutes as the Bulls routed the defending champion Miami Heat,
108-66, on Tuesday.
Chicago spoiled Miami's ring ceremony and raising of the
championship banner by outscoring the Heat, 37-14, in the second
quarter, ultimately seizing control of the contest from
thereon.
Luol Deng added 12 points and Andres Nocioni and Ben Wallace
both pulled down 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who held the Heat to
39 percent (25-of-65) shooting and forced them into 21
turnovers.
Rookie Tyrus Thomas had four points, five rebounds and two
blocks in his NBA debut for Chicago, which dominated the boards,
49-29.
The Bulls have won five straight here over the Magic, who are
11-6 all-time in home openers.
During the offseason, Orlando added to its already proficient
3-point shooting percentage (37.6) and third overall field-goal
percentage (47.2) by selecting Naismith College Player of the
Year J.J. Redick with the 11th pick in the draft.
Dwight Howard, who led the team in both points (15.8) and
rebounds (12.5) last season, Jameer Nelson and the still
improving Darko Milicic will attempt to help the Magic get off
to a strong start at TD Waterhouse this campaign. Orlando went
12-1 here down the stretch last year.
The young frontcourt of Howard and Milicic will have quite a
test before them with veterans P.J. Brown and Wallace roaming
the lane.
Chicago won last year's season series, 3-1, and has come away
victorious in nine of the last 11 regular-season meetings.
null

