Jazz-Bulls Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Mar 09 2012 11:19PM

A stretch of four games in five days finally caught up with the Chicago Bulls.

After a day off to catch their breath, the Bulls look to bounce back from their first loss in almost three weeks Saturday night when they face the visiting Utah Jazz for the only time this season.

Riding a season-high eight-game winning streak and coming off a last-second win the previous night, Chicago (33-9) could not overcome a rough start in Thursday's 99-94 loss to Orlando that opened a six-game homestand. Playing for the fourth time in five days, the Bulls trailed 37-22 after one quarter and though they fought back to take a two-point lead with 2:56 left, could not hold on and suffered their first loss since Feb. 18 versus New Jersey.

"When you get that far in the hole, you can't win like that," said coach Tom Thibodeau, whose team shot 40.7 percent overall and 5 of 22 from 3-point range. "That comes back on me. I have to get them ready to play."

Carlos Boozer had 26 points and Derrick Rose added 17 but shot just 6 of 22 - one night after he went 8 of 22 but hit a game-winning jumper in a 106-104 victory at Milwaukee. Rose (22.5 points per game) might be showing some signs of fatigue, shooting 19 of 60 (31.7 percent) over his last three contests while being held to fewer than 18 points in two of them.

Hampered by a nagging wrist injury, All-Star Luol Deng is averaging 11.3 points on 34.1 percent shooting over his last four games. There's a chance he could sit out Saturday, as well as games next week against New York and Miami.

"We're going to talk about it, talk with the medical staff and Thibs," Deng told the Bulls' official website. "The past few games (the pain) escalated a little bit. I've been managing it the last few games. It's mostly going to be rest. It's getting better."

While Deng's health is obviously a concern - especially with guards Richard Hamilton (shoulder) and C.J. Watson (ankle) still sidelined - the Bulls also need to tighten up their interior defense. Chicago allowed Milwaukee forward Ersan Ilyasova to score a career-high 32 points Wednesday and Dwight Howard to drop 29 the following night.

"We are capable of playing much better defense," said Thibodeau, whose team allowed the Magic to pull down 17 offensive rebounds. "We have to have discipline."

Utah's Al Jefferson (18.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg) poses another challenge. The veteran big man has totaled 59 points and 26 boards in last season's two meetings with Chicago.

The Bulls swept the 2010-11 series between these clubs despite Jefferson's efforts, and have averaged 110.0 points while winning three of their last four home meetings with the Jazz. Rose is averaging 25.0 points on 50.9 percent shooting in three career games against the Jazz at the United Center.

Utah (19-20) looks to bounce back after falling to 2-2 on a five-game trip after a 104-91 loss at Philadelphia on Friday. Paul Millsap had 15 points with nine rebounds but the Jazz shot 40.5 percent while allowing the 76ers to convert at a 52.6 percent clip.

"We've got to let this go," Millsap said. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves."

Jefferson had 14 points and six rebounds in Friday's loss.

Rose, Boozer, Korver lead Bulls past Jazz, 111-97

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Posted Mar 10 2012 11:46PM

CHICAGO (AP) No matter how many players they're missing, the Chicago Bulls keep insisting they never feel short-handed. Nights like this, it's easy to see why.

Derrick Rose had 24 points and 13 assists, Carlos Boozer scored 27 points and Chicago pounded the Utah Jazz 111-97 on Saturday night.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 26 points, and the Bulls got back to winning after their longest run of the season ended at eight games with a loss to Orlando on Thursday night. They turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage going into the fourth quarter and came away with a lopsided victory on a night when both teams were short-handed.

"We try to find a new way to answer this question every day," Korver said. "This is what we've been doing."

The Bulls were missing All-Star Luol Deng, who was out because of pain brought on by a torn ligament in his left wrist. Joakim Noah sat out with an illness, and guards Richard Hamilton (right shoulder injury) and C.J. Watson remained sidelined.

The Jazz were without starting guards Devin Harris (stomach virus) and Raja Bell, who was away from the team for unspecified reasons. Coach Tyrone Corbin called it "an internal matter" that he expects to be resolved soon.

Utah had no answer for the Bulls, though.

"They're just a better basketball team," Millsap said. "Their defensive philosophy, they get at it, they stick to what they do. Offensively, they set screens for each other, help each other out. Things we want to get to for the future."

Rose perked up after a slow start and Boozer and Korver dominated their former team, leading Chicago to an easy win. The Bulls still haven't dropped back-to-back games this season, and that wasn't about to change on a night when they shot just under 56 percent.

Boozer made 13 of 17 shots. Korver was on target, too, nailing 6 of 11 3-pointers, and had seven rebounds and six assists in his best game of the season.

"I missed five 3s; it's not like I shot that great," Korver deadpanned.

Actually, it was a big improvement over his performance against the Magic, when he was 1 of 7 on 3-pointers and 3 of 10 overall while scoring nine.

"In a very good way, he has a short memory," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He always thinks the next one is going in. That's good."

Corbin called Korver "one of the best at knowing who he is" and added: "That's why we loved him so much when we had him here. He will come down and make timely shots for you."

Paul Millsap led Utah with 26 points. Al Jefferson had 16, and Josh Howard added 15, but the Jazz simply were overwhelmed, losing for the second time in two nights.

Rose scored seven points over the final 3:24 of the first half to help the Bulls build a 48-41 lead after Utah pulled within two at 39-37, and Chicago dominated the rest of the way.

The Bulls scored 31 points in the third quarter, hit 12 of 15 shots and led by 18 in the final minute of the period.

The crowd was roaring after John Lucas III stole the ball from Jamaal Tinsley and fed Taj Gibson for a hard two-handed dunk. Ronnie Brewer then stole a pass from Jefferson and hit two free throws to make it 79-61 with 12.8 seconds left, before Tinsley made a short turnaround jumper.

"They did it on offense, they did a great job in their halfcourt sets, you take one thing away they went to the next thing," Corbin said. "They made perimeter shots, they got some inside baskets on us. That third quarter for them to go 12 for (15) in that quarter is difficult to overcome."

NOTES: Asked before the game if Bell's situation would be a distraction, Corbin said: "No distraction, no. I wouldn't expect so. We've got the Bulls, and that's enough distraction for everybody." ... Utah was 0 for 3 on 3-pointers while the Bulls hit 7 of 18. ... Watson appears close to returning for Chicago after missing his fourth straight game. "He did some running, some shooting today," Thibodeau said. "The swelling's down. We'll see where he is (Sunday)." ... Thibodeau said afterward that Noah's fever was gone and that he seemed to be feeling better.

Notebook: Bulls 111, Jazz 97

Posted Saturday March 10, 2012 11:14PM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: With four of their top 10 players missing due to injury or illness, the Chicago Bulls still made quick work of the visiting Utah Jazz, who themselves had a pair of starters out. Bulls forward Carlos Boozer had 27 points to lead the Bulls to a 111-97 victory. Kyle Korver, starting in place of Luol Deng, made 10 of 16 shots, including six of 11 3-pointers, to finish with 26 points. Derrick Rose had 24 points and 13 assists for the Bulls. Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 26 points.

THE FACTS II: Because of injuries and illness, both teams started the game with first-time lineups. Perhaps that is why it took 2 1/2 minutes for either team to score from the opening tip.

INJURY UPDATE: Deng, who suffered a ligament tear in his left wrist in February, sat out the game due to continued pain after playing 17 games with the injury. Bulls guards Rip Hamilton (shoulder) and C.J. Watson (ankle) remained out of the lineup, although Watson is reportedly close to returning to action.

ILLNESS/INTERNAL UPDATE: Devin Harris of the Jazz and Joakim Noah of the Bulls sat out the game with flu-like symptoms. Raja Bell did not make the trip with the Jazz from Philadelphia due "an internal matter" upon which coach Tyrone Corbin would not elaborate.

TURNING POINT: After the "starters'' battled to a 22-22 tie through one quarter, the Bulls' depth took over. The Bulls scored the first nine points of the second quarter and never trailed again.

QUOTABLE: "If we want to be a championship team, we are going to need everybody -- every coach, every coach, every trainer, to come in and do their job. That is what we are doing right now."
-- Bulls guard Derrick Rose

THE STAT: The Jazz outscored the Bulls in the paint 62-42 (their starting "bigs'' -- Josh Howard, Millsap and Al Jefferson -- had 57 points) but the Bulls outscored the Jazz from 3-point range 21-0. Utah missed all three 3-pointers it attempted.

HOT: Boozer was 13 for 17 Saturday for 27 points. He is 32 for 50 (64 percent) in his last three games.

QUOTABLE II: "(Korver) showed who he is and that's why we loved him when we had him."
-- Corbin, who was an assistant coach with the Jazz while Korver played for Utah.

NOTABLE: The Bulls' amazing streak continues. Recovering from their Thursday night loss to Orlando to beat Utah, the Bulls have not lost two straight games for 75 consecutive regular season games, dating back to Feb. 9, 2011. The six-time championship Bulls' best such streak was 72 games, from Feb. 27 1995 to Feb. 4, 1996.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, vs. Knicks Monday, vs. Heat Wednesday, vs. Trail Blazers Friday. For the Jazz, vs. Detroit Monday, @ Suns Wednesday, vs. Timberwolves Thursday.

• Jazz: Bell
• Bulls: --

• Jazz: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #36 David Jones, #26 Pat Fraher, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 22158
• Duration: 2:05