Bucks-Bulls Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jan 09 2013 12:05AM

The Chicago Bulls were originally slated for another reunion with former coach Scott Skiles but he's once again looking for work.

Instead, the Bulls will face former assistant Jim Boylan when they seek a season-high fourth straight win Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, who will try to build on the end to a four-game skid.

In a development that seemed all too familiar, the Bucks (17-16) agreed to part ways with Skiles on Tuesday and replaced him with Boylan. Chicago did the same thing on Christmas Eve in 2007 after a 9-16 start, and Boylan went 24-32, winning his debut against Milwaukee, before being replaced by current Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro.

"That's my job right now, to get us back on the right track, move us in the right direction and I think the guys we have on the team right now are quality people and committed to that task. That'll be our ultimate goal," Boylan said.

Boylan's second stint as a head coach got off to a positive start as Milwaukee snapped a season-high losing streak with a 108-99 win over visiting Phoenix on Tuesday. Brandon Jennings led the way with 29 points and nine assists, and six other players also scored in double figures.

"It was weird looking on the end of the bench and (Skiles) wasn't there. I'm sure I'll get over it soon. Jim's been here for four years. It'll be good sooner or later," said Jennings, who had a combined 28 points in his two previous games.

Jennings was held to six points on 2-of-9 shooting in the most recent matchup with Chicago on Nov. 26 but the Bucks pulled out a 93-92 road victory after rallying from a 27-point deficit in the third quarter. Ekpe Udoh made the go-ahead layup with 58 seconds left then blocked two shots to help Milwaukee snap a nine-game losing streak to its Central Division rivals.

Ersan Ilyasova had 14 of his team-best 18 points in the second half during the Bucks' end to a four-game skid in Chicago.

Richard Hamilton had a season-high 30 points in that loss and scored 22 in the opener of that home-and-home set, a 93-86 victory Nov. 24. Carlos Boozer also had 22 points in that win and a season-high 19 rebounds.

Boozer has averaged 27.3 points on 60.0 percent shooting and 11.3 rebounds in the Bulls' 3-0 start to 2013. He had 24 points and 11 boards in a 118-92 rout of visiting Cleveland on Monday.

"I'm just playing off my teammates," he said. "We work hard together. We're hanging out together. It's like a college team."

Chicago (19-13) finished 2012 by losing three of four, including a 91-81 home defeat on Dec. 31 to a Charlotte team that had lost 18 in a row.

"We had a tough last couple weeks of 2012," Boozer said. "The new year, we've got a couple of resolutions. The biggest one is getting more wins."

The Bulls have won 19 of 23 at home against Milwaukee and Boozer has averaged 19.4 points on 55.6 percent shooting in the past five of those games. He'll try to continue that production while leading Chicago to its first four-game win streak since March 17-24.

Jennings had 23 points in the home loss to the Bulls on Nov. 24 and leading scorer Monta Ellis has averaged 13.5 on 40.7 percent shooting in the two matchups this season.

Ellis averaged 25.1 points on 48.9 percent shooting in his first nine meetings with Chicago.

Boylan moves to 2-0 as Bucks beat Bulls 104-96

By JAY COHEN
Posted Jan 09 2013 11:55PM

CHICAGO (AP) Brandon Jennings stretched out his arms and held his hands just over the ground as he glided toward center court, celebrating another big 3-pointer with one of Nate Robinson's usual moves.

Yup, Jennings was listening to Robinson's trash talk, and he had the perfect response.

The speedy point guard scored 20 of his 35 points in the third quarter, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 104-96 on Wednesday night for their second consecutive victory under interim coach Jim Boylan.

Robinson scored 13 of his 19 points in the first period, but was unable to stop Jennings once he got going in the third.

"A little trash talking before the second half," Jennings said. "I guess he felt like he had it going, he was getting the best of me. I really don't take trash talking too kindly because I don't really do a lot of trash talking. I warned him, so, hey, it happens."

Mike Dunleavy had 16 points and Monta Ellis finished with 14 for Milwaukee, which made 10 of 22 3-point attempts. Larry Sanders grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

"I think the whole team played well, but obviously Brandon, offensively, really got it going," Boylan said. "I thought our defense got a little more active, coming up with loose balls. Larry's presence around the basket is intimidating. Guys go in there and they're looking for him."

Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who have dropped their last two games against Milwaukee at United Center. The Bulls blew a 27-point lead in the third quarter as Milwaukee snapped a nine-game losing streak against Chicago with a 93-92 victory on Nov. 26.

"Just second half, I think they made a lot of tough shots," Boozer said. "Brandon was amazing. We missed some shots we usually make, and that was the game."

Boozer has recorded a double-double in six consecutive games while playing some of his best basketball in three seasons with the Bulls. It's the best such streak for Chicago since Joakim Noah also had a double-double in six straight games in 2009.

The Bucks parted ways with Scott Skiles on Monday in what was called a mutual decision, and turned to his top assistant for at least the rest of the season. Boylan also served as an interim coach in Chicago when Skiles was let go during the 2007-08 season.

"I told the guys that I'm just gonna have fun with this," Boylan said. "Coach as well as I can coach, motivate these guys, and that's what I'm gonna do."

It was a lot of fun against Chicago, especially when Jennings got on a roll in the third. He was 4 for 7 from long range in the period, including two 3s during a quick 8-0 burst that gave the Bucks a 72-64 lead with 4:48 left.

"Teams go in stretches where they score and score and score," Robinson said. "It's like you can't do nothing about it. But tonight we beat ourselves. Brandon Jennings got hot. It happens."

Robinson also downplayed his running conversation with Jennings.

"A couple of dirty plays exchanged, but, you know, nothing to complain about," he said. "It's basketball."

Jennings added a key floater in the fourth as the Bucks won for only the seventh time in their last 27 games against the Bulls.

Luol Deng scored 18 points for Chicago, which was seeking a season-best fourth consecutive victory.

Robinson got the start in place of Kirk Hinrich, who was sidelined with a right elbow injury. It was the fifth start of the season for the streaky guard, who made three 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Chicago grab a 33-23 lead after one.

The Bulls still held a 10-point lead in the final seconds of the first half when Jennings connected from long range, slicing Chicago's advantage to 57-50 at the break.

NOTES: Bulls C Nazr Mohammed was preparing for the second half when a giant inflatable Benny the Bull landed on him near the free-throw line. The operator quickly got the mascot away from Mohammed, who just smiled as he continued to warm up. ... Hinrich has been hampered by a slew of injuries this season. He missed three games in December with a bruised left knee and a game in November because of an injured right hip. ... Boylan said before the game he thinks Skiles will coach again. ... The crowd roared when Bears CB Charles Tillman was shown on the overhead videoboard before the final period. ... Jennings has made at least one 3-pointer in a career-best 22 straight games.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

Notebook: Bucks 104, Bulls 96

Kent McDill, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:37 PM - Updated Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:37 PM

THE FACTS: The Milwaukee Bucks used a barrage of 3-point shots in the second half to come from behind and beat the host Chicago Bulls 104-96 Wednesday at the United Center. Brandon Jennings scored a season-high 35 points, 20 in the third quarter, and Mike Dunleavy had 16 points off the bench. Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls.

THE FACTS II: The Bucks did not lead in the first half, trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter and trailed by seven at halftime. Then they made five 3-pointers in the third quarter (four by Jennings) to build a nine-point lead. They then hit nine of 14 shots in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

THE FACTS III: The Bulls let a 27-point lead slip away and lost 93-92 to the Bucks at the United Center Nov. 26.

THE STAT: The Bucks, who lead the league in blocked shots, had a season-high 15 blocks, led by Larry Sanders' seven. The Bucks blocked 27 percent of the Bulls missed shots (15-of-56).

THE STAT II: The Bucks made 10 of 22 3-pointers in the game. The Bulls attempted just 10 3-pointers and made four.

THE STAT III: Jennings had 29 points, and made five of seven 3-pointers, in Tuesday's win at home against Phoenix.

QUOTABLE I: "(There was) A little trash-talking before the second half. I guess he felt he had it going. I don't take trash-talking too kindly. I warned him, so, hey."
-- Milwaukee guard Brandon Jennings, who had a heated conversation with Bulls guard Nate Robinson. Jennings scored 25 of his 35 points in the second half.

TURNING POINT: The Bulls could not close the gap in the fourth quarter, but got to within one point at 92-91 with 4:24 remaining. Milwaukee's Mike Dunleavy hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to four points to give the Bucks some breathing room.

INJURY UPDATE: Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich did not play because of a bruised right elbow suffered Monday against Cleveland. He is listed as day-to-day.

HOT: Jennings missed his first five shots of the game then went 12 for 19 the rest of the way.

NOT: Bulls starting guard Rip Hamilton was two for 11 from the field and played just 16 minutes. Marco Belinelli did little better as his replacement, going four for 14 in 31 minutes.

QUOTABLE II: "Those are two guys who like to talk a lot. Put them in a room together and something is going to happen."
-- Milwaukee coach Jim Boylan, talking about Jennings and Robinson.

GOOD MOVE: The Bucks are 2-0 under interim coach Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles as coach on Tuesday.

BAD MOVE: Robinson probably should not have gotten Jennings fired up by getting in his face at halftime.

QUOTABLE III: "We got what we deserved."
-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

ROOKIE WATCH: With Hinrich out, Bulls guard Marquis Teague was supposed to help out at point guard, but he played just five minutes, made two glaring turnovers, and did not score.

QUOTABLE IV: "I feel like I can do what I want. I got my swagger back, I can clown around."
-- Jennings talking about how it is different playing under Boylan rather than Skiles.

NOTABLE: As the Bulls ran out to an 11-2 lead, all five starters scored once. ... The Bulls were pursuing their first four-game win streak of the season for the second time. ... Carlos Boozer has six consecutive double-doubles.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, @ New York Friday, vs. Phoenix Saturday, vs. Atlanta Monday. For the Bucks, vs. Detroit Friday, @ Toronto Sunday, @ L.A. Lakers Tuesday.

• Bucks: Lamb, Przybilla
• Bulls: Rose

• Bucks: --
• Bulls: Robinson

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #8 Marc Davis, #12 Violet Palmer, #79 Kevin Scott
• Attendance: 21570
• Duration: 2:11