Bulls snap 10-game losing streak with 98-84 victory over 76ers

Sorry to use such an old cliché, but getting Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah back from injuries turned out to be just what the doctor ordered for the Bulls.

Rose scored a team-high 23 points and Noah spent an active nine minutes on the court as the Bulls snapped their 10-game losing streak with a 98-84 victory over Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center on Saturday.

After missing four games with a sprained left wrist, Rose came out on fire, scoring 12 points in the opening quarter. He also hit four 3-pointers after accumulating just 6 baskets from 3-point land all season.

"I got a lot of open shots," Rose said. "It seemed like they were giving me the shots. I was open. I had to take them. - It was just great to be back with the team."

Noah hadn't played since Feb. 26 because of lingering plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He looked pretty much like his old self, producing 7 points and 4 rebounds in limited minutes. He got to the foul line eight times.

The Bulls announced early this month that Noah would be shut down for three weeks in an effort to solve his foot problems. But Noah beat projections by returning a few days before the three-week mark struck on March 24.

He's been undergoing sound wave treatments in an effort to solve the condition. Noah admitted it takes him three or four games to get in playing shape.

Kirk Hinrich, who was ice cold against Cleveland on Friday, added 17 points and 11 assists for the Bulls (32-37). Brad Miller scored 16 points and Hakim Warrick had 13.

The Bulls opened the second quarter with a 15-4 run that gave them a 36-21 lead with 7:30 left in the half. Warrick, a Philadelphia native, scored 6 straight points during that stretch and Noah capped it off with a pair of free throws.

"It was a nice win, knowing what we've been through," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Having Rose and Noah back really helped."

The Sixers (24-46) never got closer than 10 the rest of the way and hit just 1 of 17 shots from 3-point range. Backup center Marreese Speights scored 17 points to lead Philadelphia, which has lost 12 of 14.

Even after losing 10 in a row, the Bulls are just 21/2 games behind Toronto for the final playoff spot in the East and 3 games behind seventh-place Charlotte.

The schedule gets a little softer from here, with eight of the final 13 games at the United Center. Next week will provide a good test for whether the Bulls are ready for a late push with home games against Houston (35-32), Miami (36-34) and New Jersey (7-62), followed by a trip to Detroit (23-46).

The late-season playoff push is nothing new for the Bulls. They won 12 of 16 games to finish last season, and 12 of 14 in 2006 and made the playoffs both times.