Bulls-Hornets Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Feb 18 2013 5:59PM

The Chicago Bulls hope the season's final two months will include the return of Derrick Rose. They've remained in the playoff hunt without him, but Chicago's backcourt - also dealing with other injuries - may be starting to buckle.

Playing much better basketball after a dismal start, the New Orleans Hornets would have preferred to skip the All-Star break altogether. Instead, they'll try to win for the fifth time in six games when they host the Bulls on Tuesday night.

A return date has still not been set for Rose, who has been rehabbing his knee after tearing his ACL in the first game of last year's playoffs. Rose was initially expected to come back some time after the break but told USA Today missing the entire season was a possibility.

"I'm feeling good, but like I said, if it's to where it's taking me a long time and I'm still not feeling right, I don't mind missing this year," said Rose, who participated in five-on-five drills Monday.

Without Rose, Chicago has still clawed its way to a 30-22 record primarily on the strength of its defense, which is holding opponents to 43.3 percent shooting to rank third in the NBA. But the Bulls are 1-4 over their last five games, a stretch in which they've allowed opponents to average 100.4 points on 49.6 percent shooting.

They've finished both seasons under coach Tom Thibodeau among the top three in opponents' field-goal percentage.

"We have to grind," Thibodeau said. "We have to do it collectively. We have to play with great intensity. We can't take shortcuts."

Sloppy ballhandling also reared its head in losses to San Antonio and Boston before the break, with Chicago totaling 41 turnovers. Kirk Hinrich, who leads Chicago with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, has missed seven straight games after having an infection in his right elbow cleaned out. He is listed as day-to-day.

Chicago had won eight in a row in this series before New Orleans claimed an 89-82 road victory Nov. 3, holding the Bulls to 33.0 percent shooting despite playing without Anthony Davis.

The Hornets started 5-22 but have since gone 14-12. After a 99-63 home win over Portland on Wednesday - their largest margin of victory since beating Atlanta by 41 points Jan. 21, 2011 - they have an opportunity for only their second three-game winning streak.

Point guard Greivis Vasquez is averaging 15.2 points and 10.2 assists while shooting 54.7 percent over the last five games as New Orleans has gone 4-1.

"We are playing Hornets basketball right now, and we are making progress and we are continuing to play hard," Vasquez said. "I know I'm understanding the game much better. I now see things that I didn't see before."

Davis, who missed November's matchup with a concussion, had shot 1 for 13 in two games before finishing 10 of 17 for 21 points with 11 rebounds against the Trail Blazers.

Vasquez led the Hornets (19-34) with 18 points in the first meeting while Luol Deng paced the Bulls with 19. Joakim Noah is averaging 12.5 points and 14.3 rebounds in his last six games against New Orleans.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Deng, rested Bulls upend Hornets 96-87

By BRETT MARTEL
Posted Feb 20 2013 12:06AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Even if Derrick Rose wasn't ready to return, the Chicago Bulls got healthier as a team over the All-Star break - and it showed.

Luol Deng scored 20 points, Kirk Hinrich returned from a seven-game absence with 10 assists, and the Chicago Bulls snapped a two-game skid with a 96-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.

"We all needed a little break," said Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. "(We needed to) get away from it, get rejuvenated, get recharged, especially mentally. Obviously, physically, too. We had a lot of guys who were banged up. Some of us are still banged up, but we're playing through it."

Chicago, which hopes Rose will return from last season's left knee injury in time for the stretch run to the playoffs, has now gone 31-22 without him.

"We're a complete team," said Boozer, whose team plays next at home against first-place Miami on Thursday night. "We've got great players at each position."

The Bulls took the lead for good late in the first quarter, but didn't put the Hornets away until Deng's clutch jumper from the top of the key with 44.8 seconds left put Chicago up 94-87 after the Hornets had pulled within five points on Eric Gordon's 3-pointer.

Joakim Noah had 15 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, which outrebounded New Orleans 47-39 and scored 15 second-chance points.

"We've got a lot of guys who like to get in there and bang and rebound," Boozer said. "That's one of our strengths."

Gordon finished with 20 and Anthony Davis had 15 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which saw its two-game winning streak snapped after committing nine of its 15 turnovers in the final quarter. Greivis Vasquez had 11 points and 10 assists for the Hornets.

"They had good ball pressure," Hornets forward Jason Smith said of the Bulls' fourth-quarter defense. "Hinrich, he played amazing defense. He played a hell of a game."

Hinrich, who had not played since Jan. 30 because of a right elbow injury, accounted for a third of Chicago's 30 total assists to go with three steals.

"Kirk played huge for us today," Noah said. "He does a lot of things that you don't see in the stat sheet that really help our club. ... He just brings a whole different dimension, his defensive intensity, his feel for the game when he calls plays, ball movement, everything. He's a great player."

The Bulls shot 46.4 percent (39 of 84). Deng, Boozer and Noah all shot 50 percent of better. Deng was 7 of 13 from the field, Noah 6 of 11 and Boozer 8 of 16.

"They were physically tougher than we were tonight," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "I won't blame it on rust because four days off should help us. We just didn't make plays tonight, and give them credit. They were physically in our face all night long."

The Bulls led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter when Hinrich's transition 3 and Boozer's reverse layup made it 64-52, but the Hornets kept making it interesting, pulling within 74-68 on Ryan Anderson's free throws in the final seconds of the period.

Early in the fourth quarter, reserve point guard Brian Roberts hit a jumper and 3 in succession, pulling New Orleans within 76-75, at which point Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau called timeout and told his players "just to play hard."

"The level of intensity was very good," Thibodeau said. "Our defense was solid. ... We were not shortcutting things, making the extra pass, setting good screens. I thought overall it was very good."

Chicago responded soon after with a key 6-0 spurt on Nate Robinson's finger roll, Jimmy Butler's layup after an offensive rebound and former Hornet Marco Belinelli's free throws.

Davis' dunk snapped the mini-run and New Orleans trailed 88-82 on Gordon's driving layup with 3:48 left, but Boozer scored inside and Noah banked in a difficult jump hook to make it 92-82 with 2:53 left.

Chicago surged into the lead for good by closing out the first quarter with a 14-4 run that included Taj Gibson's dunk and 3s by Belinelli and Deng, the latter making it 26-21.

Davis, who had a pair of crowd-pleasing dunks in the opening half - one in which he lifted off just inside the foul line and another one-handed throw-down of an alley-oop - closed out the first half with an even more impressive score, snagging a long pass from Vasquez, then quickly turning and banking in a short shot as he was shoved to the floor by Noah. Davis hit the ensuing free throw to trim Chicago's lead to 47-43 at halftime.

NOTES: Anderson and Al-Farouq Aminu each scored 10 for New Orleans. ... The Hornets won the only other meeting this season, 89-82 Nov. 3 in Chicago, despite the absence of Davis. ... Hinrich was called for a technical foul in the third quarter for arguing with official Sean Wright. ... Two days after the dunk-filled All-Star game, both teams went looking to score from above the rim and didn't always convert. Davis, Noah and Aminu all missed dunks in the first half.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Bulls 96, Hornets 87

Bradley Handwerger, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:44 PM - Updated Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:44 PM

THE FACTS: The Chicago Bulls began the stretch run of the season by holding off the New Orleans Hornets 96-87 Tuesday night in which they pulled away for good in the fourth quarter.

The trio of Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah carried the Bulls, combining for 52 points. Noah added 17 rebounds while Boozer contributed 10 boards.

Twice the Hornets (19-35) pulled to within one point in the fourth quarter, first at 76-75 on Brian Roberts' 26-foot 3-pointer. After two Nate Robinson free throws pushed the Bulls' lead back to three points, New Orleans' Jason Smith knocked down a 15-footer to get the Hornets back to within a point.

But an 8-2 run by Chicago put the game out of reach and Chicago (31-22) got a jump on its post-All-Star break push for a home-court advantage series in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They entered the night just a half-game behind the Brooklyn Nets for fourth place despite starting February just 2-5.

New Orleans lost in spite of double-doubles from both Anthony Davis (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Greivis Vasquez (11 points, 10 assists).

The Hornets, who had won four of five heading into the All-Star break, now must travel to Cleveland for a game Wednesday night. They won't have guard Eric Gordon, who scored 20 points Tuesday, because he's still not playing the second game of back-to-backs as the team slowly brings him back from a nagging knee injury.

QUOTABLE: "Down the stretch you've got to make big plays, got to be five guys tied together. And I think we did that."

-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau

THE STAT: 9 -- Hornets coach Monty Williams said before the game that New Orleans' success hinged on taking care of the basketball. And his team did. At least, it did until the fourth quarter. Nine turnovers in the final 12 minutes, including seven in the final eight, changed the complexion of the game after New Orleans had pulled to within one point.

TURNING POINT: A timeout with 1:59 remaining in the game turned the game. New Orleans' Al-Farouq Aminu had just barreled into the lane, running into Chicago's Kirk Hinrich and knocking him over. With Chicago holding onto a 92-82 lead, the foul would have sent Aminu to the line after a timeout. But the officials conferred and overturned the call and the Hornets' last chance all but vanished as they lost an important possession in the final two minutes.

QUOTABLE II: "We just couldn't really punish them back. That's a physical team. Their big guys played extremely physical."

-- Vasquez on Chicago's intensity

HOT: Chicago's Noah came through with a big effort in every phase of the game. He finished with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting, grabbed 17 rebounds, had five assists and added three blocks shots. His presence helped give Chicago an advantage in rebounds throughout the game.

NOT: The Hornets' Ryan Anderson entered Tuesday's game as the NBA's leader in 3-point field goals. But he was quiet against Chicago, going just 2-for-11 from the floor, including 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.

NOTABLE: Noah finished with his 27th double-double of the season and his 17 rebounds were an opponent high against the Hornets. ... New Orleans' Vasquez had his 21st double-double of the season. He now leads all guards in the NBA in double-doubles. ... The Hornets' Gordon finished with 20 points, the eighth time in 19 games he has played to record at least that many points.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Wednesday @ Cleveland, Friday vs. Dallas, Sunday vs. Sacramento. For the Bulls, Thursday vs. Miami, Friday @ Charlotte, Sunday @ Oklahoma City.

• Bulls: Rose
• Hornets: --

• Bulls: Hinrich
• Hornets: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Officials: #8 Marc Davis, #65 Sean Wright, #54 Nick Buchert
• Attendance: 13612
• Duration: 2:08

Chicago Bulls (31-22)		New Orleans Hornets (19-35)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Lopez vs Noah (Vasquez gains possession)
	11:41	Davis Jump Shot: Missed
Hamilton Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:40
Deng Running Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Boozer (1 AST)	11:21 [CHI 2-0]
	11:06	Gordon Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:05
Hamilton Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Boozer (2 AST)	10:51 [CHI 4-0]
	10:29	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:28
Boozer Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hamilton (1 AST)	10:14 [CHI 6-0]
	09:56 [NOH 2-6]	Vasquez Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Davis (1 AST)
Boozer Foul: Offensive (1 PF)	09:40
Boozer Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	09:40
	09:24 [NOH 4-6]	Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Noah Layup Shot: Missed	08:59
Boozer Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	08:58
Boozer Tip Shot: Made (4 PTS)	08:58 [CHI 8-4]
	08:51	Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	08:51
Noah Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Lopez (1 BLK)	08:37
	08:33	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:30	Gordon Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Boozer (1 ST)
Deng Layup Shot: Missed Block: Lopez (2 BLK)	08:25
	08:23	Team Rebound
	08:10	Gordon Jump Shot: Missed Block: Hamilton (1 BLK)
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	08:09
Deng Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (1 AST)	08:02 [CHI 10-4]
	07:46 [NOH 6-10]	Gordon Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (1 AST)
	07:34	Gordon Foul: Personal (1 PF)
Hinrich 3pt Shot: Missed	07:26
	07:25	Lopez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:19	Davis Dunk Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:17
Hamilton Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	07:06
	06:55	Gordon 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	06:54
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	06:43
	06:42	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:32	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:18 [NOH 8-10]	Aminu Fadeaway Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Hamilton Jump Shot: Missed	05:58
	05:57	Lopez Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	05:49 [NOH 10-10]	Gordon Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (2 AST)
Deng Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Aminu (1 ST)	05:34
	05:29 [NOH 12-10]	Davis Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Aminu (1 AST)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	05:07
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	05:06
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed	05:02
	05:01	Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:56 [NOH 15-10]	Gordon 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (3 AST)
	04:42	Vasquez Violation:Kicked Ball
Boozer Substitution replaced by Gibson	04:42
Noah Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (2 AST)	04:34 [CHI 12-15]
	04:17	Davis Layup Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	04:15
Gibson Layup Shot: Missed	04:08
Noah Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	04:07
Noah Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Davis (1 ST)	04:04
	03:57 [NOH 17-12]	Aminu Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Gordon (1 AST)
Hamilton Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (3 AST)	03:40 [CHI 14-17]
Hamilton Foul: Personal (1 PF)	03:26
Hamilton Substitution replaced by Belinelli	03:26
	03:26	Gordon Substitution replaced by Anderson
	03:26	Davis Substitution replaced by Rivers
	03:14	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	03:13
Belinelli Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Deng (1 AST)	02:59 [CHI 16-17]
	02:41	Anderson Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	02:38
Team Timeout : Regular	02:38
	02:38	Lopez Substitution replaced by Smith
	02:24	Aminu Substitution replaced by Miller
Hinrich Layup Shot: Missed	02:16
Noah Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	02:15
Noah Tip Shot: Missed	02:15
Noah Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	02:14
Noah Tip Shot: Made (4 PTS)	02:14 [CHI 18-17]
	01:56	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	01:55
	01:47	Miller Foul: Personal (1 PF)
	01:47	Vasquez Substitution replaced by Roberts
Gibson Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Belinelli (1 AST)	01:40 [CHI 20-17]
	01:27	Roberts Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hinrich (1 ST)
Hinrich Layup Shot: Missed	01:21
Belinelli Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	01:20
Belinelli Layup Shot: Missed	01:20
	01:20	Rivers Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	01:01	Roberts Jump Shot: Missed
	00:59.9	Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Noah Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	00:58.9
	00:58.9 [NOH 18-20]	Anderson Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	00:58.9 [NOH 19-20]	Anderson Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Gibson Dunk Shot: Missed Block: Smith (1 BLK)	00:46.9
Belinelli Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	00:44.5
Belinelli 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS)	00:41.9 [CHI 23-19]
	00:37.3 [NOH 21-23]	Smith Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Roberts (1 AST)
Deng 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (4 AST)	00:26.2 [CHI 26-21]
	00:01.9	Roberts Jump Shot: Missed
	00:01.0	Smith Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	00:01.0	Smith Tip Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	00:00.3
End of 1st Quarter
Chicago Bulls (31-22)		New Orleans Hornets (19-35)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Noah Dunk Shot: Missed	11:38
	11:35	Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	11:22 [NOH 23-26]	Smith Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Roberts (2 AST)
Belinelli 3pt Shot: Missed	11:01
	10:59	Smith Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	10:49	Rivers Layup Shot: Missed Block: Noah (1 BLK)
	10:48	Anderson Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
Gibson Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	10:48
	10:48	Anderson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	10:48	Team Rebound
Noah Substitution replaced by Mohammed	10:48
	10:48	Miller Substitution replaced by Mason Jr.
	10:48 [NOH 24-26]	Anderson Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)
Robinson Layup Shot: Missed	10:25
Team Rebound	10:25
Butler Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Roberts (1 ST)	10:14
	10:06	Mason Jr. 3pt Shot: Missed
Mohammed Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:05
Mohammed Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Butler (1 AST)	09:43 [CHI 28-24]
	09:16 [NOH 26-28]	Roberts Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Mohammed Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Robinson (1 AST)	08:56 [CHI 30-26]
	08:31 [NOH 28-30]	Anderson Turnaround Bank shot: Made (5 PTS)
Robinson Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS)	08:12 [CHI 32-28]
	07:59	Rivers Layup Shot: Missed
Mohammed Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:57
Butler 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Belinelli (2 AST)	07:36 [CHI 35-28]
	07:25	Team Timeout : Regular
	07:25	Roberts Substitution replaced by Vasquez
	07:18	Smith Jump Shot: Missed Block: Butler (1 BLK)
Team Rebound	07:18
	07:18	Jump Ball Smith vs Butler (Mohammed gains possession)
	07:04	Vasquez Foul: Personal (1 PF)
	07:04	Mason Jr. Substitution replaced by Davis
	07:04	Smith Substitution replaced by Gordon
Robinson Layup Shot: Missed	06:53
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	06:51
Gibson Putback Slam Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS)	06:50 [CHI 37-28]
	06:35	Anderson Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	06:33
Gibson Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	06:25
	06:06 [NOH 30-37]	Davis Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (4 AST)
	05:54	Rivers Foul: Personal (1 PF)
	05:54
	05:54	Rivers Substitution replaced by Aminu
	05:54	Anderson Substitution replaced by Lopez
Robinson Jump Shot: Missed	05:44
	05:42	Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	05:35 [NOH 33-37]	Gordon 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Lopez (1 AST)
Robinson Jump Shot: Missed	05:09
	05:07	Gordon Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	05:01 [NOH 35-37]	Gordon Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	04:52
Gibson Substitution replaced by Boozer	04:52
Belinelli Substitution replaced by Deng	04:52
Mohammed Substitution replaced by Noah	04:52
Boozer Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Noah (1 AST)	04:39 [CHI 39-35]
	04:13	Gordon 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:12	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	04:03	Vasquez Floating Jump shot: Missed
Team Rebound	04:02
Robinson Jump Shot: Missed	03:50
	03:48	Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	03:31	Aminu Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Robinson (1 ST)
Butler Dunk Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Deng (2 AST)	03:26 [CHI 41-35]
	03:04	Davis Jump Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)	03:02
Deng Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Noah (2 AST)	02:48 [CHI 43-35]
	02:25 [NOH 37-43]	Vasquez Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Davis (2 AST)
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	01:56
Butler Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	01:54
Robinson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	01:46
Robinson Substitution replaced by Hinrich	01:46
	01:35	Aminu Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	01:32
Butler Slam Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Noah (3 AST)	01:28 [CHI 45-37]
	01:16	Gordon Jump Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	01:15
	00:59.9	Lopez Substitution replaced by Anderson
Deng Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Davis (2 ST)	00:57.9
	00:49.8	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)	00:47.9
Deng Jump Shot: Missed	00:39.9
	00:38.6	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	00:24.5 [NOH 39-45]	Vasquez Floating Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)
Hinrich Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)	00:24.5
	00:24.5	Anderson Substitution replaced by Lopez
Butler Substitution replaced by Belinelli	00:24.5
	00:24.5 [NOH 40-45]	Vasquez Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)
Hinrich Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	00:04.8 [CHI 47-40]
	00:01.6 [NOH 42-47]	Davis Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (5 AST)
Noah Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)	00:01.6
	00:01.6 [NOH 43-47]	Davis Free Throw 1 of 1 (7 PTS)
End of 2nd Quarter
Chicago Bulls (31-22)		New Orleans Hornets (19-35)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Boozer Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Hamilton (2 AST)	11:43 [CHI 49-43]
	11:43	Aminu Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)
Boozer Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)	11:43 [CHI 50-43]
	11:31	Davis Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hinrich (2 ST)
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	11:20
	11:18	Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	11:10 [NOH 45-50]	Davis Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (6 AST)
Hinrich Layup Shot: Missed	10:53
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:6)	10:52
Noah Tip Shot: Made (6 PTS)	10:52 [CHI 52-45]
	10:39 [NOH 47-52]	Davis Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (7 AST)
Noah Jump Shot: Missed Block: Aminu (1 BLK)	10:20
	10:17	Lopez Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	10:13	Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:7)	10:12
	09:57	Gordon Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Hamilton Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	09:57 [CHI 53-47]
Hamilton Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	09:57
	09:56	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	09:43	Gordon Layup Shot: Missed
	09:42	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
Boozer Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	09:42
	09:42 [NOH 48-53]	Lopez Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	09:42	Lopez Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	09:41
Boozer Step Back Jump shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Noah (4 AST)	09:20 [CHI 55-48]
	09:05 [NOH 50-55]	Gordon Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed	08:45
Boozer Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	08:44
Boozer Layup Shot: Missed Block: Aminu (2 BLK)	08:44
Team Rebound	08:44
Deng Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Davis (3 ST)	08:38
	08:28	Davis Jump Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)	08:27
	08:12	Gordon Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Deng Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	08:12 [CHI 56-50]
Deng Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	08:12 [CHI 57-50]
	07:51	Davis Jump Shot: Missed
	07:51	Team Rebound
	07:45	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
Hinrich Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:44
Hamilton Pullup Jump shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (5 AST)	07:38 [CHI 59-50]
	07:24 [NOH 52-59]	Aminu Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Davis (3 AST)
Hamilton Jump Shot: Missed	07:04
Team Rebound	07:03
Hamilton Jump Shot: Missed	07:00
	06:59	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	06:49	Davis Layup Shot: Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)	06:48
Hinrich 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Hamilton (3 AST)	06:42 [CHI 62-52]
	06:42	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:40	Lopez Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hinrich (3 ST)
Hamilton Jump Shot: Missed	06:34
	06:33	Gordon Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Noah Foul: Personal (3 PF)	06:24
	06:09	Gordon Jump Shot: Missed
	06:09	Team Rebound
	05:56	Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed Block: Noah (2 BLK)
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)	05:54
Boozer Reverse Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Deng (3 AST)	05:45 [CHI 64-52]
Hamilton Foul: Personal (2 PF)	05:33
	05:33	Lopez Substitution replaced by Anderson
	05:19	Vasquez Running Jump Shot: Missed
	05:16	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	05:16 [NOH 54-64]	Aminu Tip Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Noah Dunk Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (6 AST)	04:57 [CHI 66-54]
	04:44	Gordon 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:10)	04:42
Deng Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Aminu (2 ST)	04:31
	04:25 [NOH 56-66]	Aminu Dunk Shot: Made (10 PTS)
	04:09	Gordon Substitution replaced by Rivers
	04:01	Anderson Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Noah Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	04:01
Team Rebound	04:01
Noah Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	04:01 [CHI 67-56]
	03:47 [NOH 58-67]	Anderson Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (8 AST)
Noah Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (1 FTA)	03:47
Noah Substitution replaced by Gibson	03:47
	03:47 [NOH 59-67]	Anderson Free Throw 1 of 1 (8 PTS)
Deng Turnover : Traveling (5 TO)	03:31
Hamilton Substitution replaced by Belinelli	03:31
Hinrich Foul: Personal (2 PF) (2 FTA)	03:27
Hinrich Technical	03:27
	03:27	Anderson Free Throw Technical Missed
	03:27	Team Rebound
	03:27 [NOH 60-67]	Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	03:27 [NOH 61-67]	Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Gibson Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Davis (4 ST)	03:10
	03:03	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Belinelli Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	03:02
Hinrich Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)	02:55
Team Timeout : Regular	02:55
Belinelli Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	02:41
	02:41	Rivers Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	02:41	Team Rebound
	02:41	Rivers Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)	02:38
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	02:22
	02:21	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	02:01	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	02:00
	02:00	Davis Foul: Loose Ball (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Deng Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)	02:00 [CHI 68-61]
	02:00	Davis Substitution replaced by Smith
Deng Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)	02:00 [CHI 69-61]
	01:43	Smith Jump Shot: Missed
	01:41	Anderson Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	01:41	Anderson Tip Shot: Missed
	01:41	Aminu Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	01:41	Aminu Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
	01:41	Vasquez Substitution replaced by Roberts
Boozer Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (7 AST)	01:26 [CHI 71-61]
	01:12	Aminu Substitution replaced by Thomas
Hinrich Substitution replaced by Robinson	01:12
	01:07 [NOH 63-71]	Smith Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Thomas (1 AST)
Deng Jump Shot: Missed	00:48.9
	00:47.9	Rivers Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	00:40.5 [NOH 65-71]	Rivers Running Bank shot: Made (2 PTS)
Gibson Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)	00:40.5
	00:40.5 [NOH 66-71]	Rivers Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Deng 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Belinelli (3 AST)	00:23.4 [CHI 74-66]
Gibson Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (3 FTA)	00:03.1
	00:03.1 [NOH 67-74]	Anderson Free Throw 1 of 3 (9 PTS)
	00:03.1 [NOH 68-74]	Anderson Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
	00:03.1	Anderson Free Throw 3 of 3 Missed
Boozer Rebound (Off:4 Def:6)	00:01.9
Robinson 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Chicago Bulls (31-22)		New Orleans Hornets (19-35)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:47	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	11:45
Gibson Foul: Offensive (4 PF)	11:43
Gibson Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	11:43
	11:20 [NOH 70-74]	Thomas Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Roberts (3 AST)
Belinelli Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Noah (5 AST)	11:02 [CHI 76-70]
	10:41 [NOH 72-76]	Roberts Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rivers (1 AST)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	10:21
	10:19	Rivers Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
Belinelli Foul: Personal (2 PF)	10:14
	10:02 [NOH 75-76]	Roberts 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Belinelli Jump Shot: Missed	09:44
	09:43	Smith Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	09:32	Roberts Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	09:31
	09:24	Smith Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Robinson Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	09:24 [CHI 77-75]
Robinson Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	09:24 [CHI 78-75]
	09:08 [NOH 77-78]	Smith Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Roberts (4 AST)
Robinson Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Belinelli (4 AST)	08:47 [CHI 80-77]
Robinson Foul: Personal (1 PF)	08:33
	08:33
	08:20	Roberts Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
Robinson Jump Shot: Missed	08:08
	08:06	Thomas Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:48	Roberts Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Gibson (1 ST)
Gibson 3pt Shot: Missed	07:43
Butler Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	07:42
	07:42	Smith Violation:Defensive Goaltending
Butler Putback Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS)	07:42 [CHI 82-77]
	07:24	Smith Jump Shot: Missed
	07:23	Thomas Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	07:19	Thomas Layup Shot: Missed
Robinson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:18
	07:06	Roberts Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Belinelli Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)	07:06 [CHI 83-77]
	07:06	Smith Substitution replaced by Aminu
	07:06	Thomas Substitution replaced by Davis
	07:06	Roberts Substitution replaced by Vasquez
Belinelli Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	07:06 [CHI 84-77]
	06:45 [NOH 79-84]	Davis Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Anderson (1 AST)
Butler 3pt Shot: Missed	06:23
Noah Rebound (Off:5 Def:10)	06:22
Noah Tip Shot: Made (11 PTS)	06:22 [CHI 86-79]
	06:04	Anderson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gibson (1 BLK)
	06:04	Team Rebound
Robinson Substitution replaced by Hinrich	06:04
Belinelli Substitution replaced by Deng	06:04
	06:04	Rivers Substitution replaced by Gordon
	05:59	Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed Block: Noah (3 BLK)
	05:58	Anderson Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)
	05:58	Anderson Foul: Offensive (2 PF)
	05:58	Anderson Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	05:58	Team Timeout : Regular
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	05:46
	05:45	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
Butler Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	05:30
	05:30	Gordon Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	05:30	Team Rebound
	05:30 [NOH 80-86]	Gordon Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed Block: Anderson (1 BLK)	05:08
Team Rebound	05:07
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	05:07
Gibson Substitution replaced by Boozer	05:07
	04:50	Gordon Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Boozer (2 ST)
Hinrich Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Aminu (3 ST)	04:43
	04:35	Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Boozer (3 ST)
Deng Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Boozer (3 AST)	04:27 [CHI 88-80]
	04:27	Team Timeout : Short
	04:14	Vasquez Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Hinrich Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	04:13
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	03:58
	03:57	Aminu Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	03:48 [NOH 82-88]	Gordon Driving Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (9 AST)
Boozer Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (8 AST)	03:28 [CHI 90-82]
	03:11	Gordon Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Deng (1 ST)
Noah Hook Bank Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (9 AST)	02:53 [CHI 92-82]
	02:35	Anderson Layup Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:5 Def:11)	02:34
Boozer Jump Shot: Missed	02:19
	02:18	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	01:59	Aminu Foul: Offensive Charge (2 PF)
	01:59	Aminu Turnover : Offensive Foul Turnover (3 TO)
Team Timeout : Regular	01:59
Hinrich Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Davis (1 BLK)	01:42
	01:41	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
Hinrich Foul: Personal (3 PF)	01:29
	01:19 [NOH 84-92]	Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	00:57.9
	00:56.7	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)
	00:50.9 [NOH 87-92]	Gordon 3pt Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (10 AST)
Team Timeout : Short	00:50.9
Deng Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Hinrich (10 AST)	00:44.8 [CHI 94-87]
	00:29.9	Gordon Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Boozer (4 ST)
	00:26.5	Vasquez Foul: Personal Take (2 PF)
	00:25.2	Gordon Foul: Personal (4 PF) (2 FTA)
Butler Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:25.2
Team Rebound	00:25.2
Butler Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	00:25.2
	00:24.8	Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)
	00:24.8	Team Timeout : Short
Boozer Substitution replaced by Gibson	00:24.8
	00:21.9	Gordon 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:19.9	Anderson Rebound (Off:5 Def:1)
	00:17.2	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:5 Def:12)	00:16.2
	00:15.7	Davis Foul: Personal (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Noah Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	00:15.7 [CHI 95-87]
Noah Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	00:15.7 [CHI 96-87]
	00:00.5	Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
End of 4th Quarter