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Depth again plays big role for Bulls

As Pau Gasol finished getting dressed and turned to face a large crowd of reporters, he let out an extended, weary sigh.

What's the matter, Pau? Tired?

Missing pieces helped force Gasol, 34, into 41 minutes of action Tuesday night against Orlando. Joakim Noah missed the game due to an illness. Taj Gibson returned from a one-game absence but spent time on the bench with foul trouble.

Gasol made the most of his time, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Derrick Rose did not play, either, taking a second game off with dual sprained ankles, but the Bulls still had five players reach double figures in a 98-90 victory at the United Center.

"Down Jo, down Derrick, we had a lot of guys step up and do a good job," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "That's what you have to do; you have to find ways to win."

Gasol deserved a nap after this one. Instead, he hopped on a bus to Milwaukee since the Bulls will play again Wednesday against the Bucks.

During his first four games with the Bulls, Gasol leads the team by a wide margin in total minutes played. Maybe that will change if the Bulls can ever stay healthy.

"You have to always be prepared, physically and mentally, to face different and difficult circumstances, where you have to play a little longer, work a little harder," Gasol said. "This is what this league is about. This is what makes the difference between playing at a high level and playing at an OK level some nights."

Thibodeau is hoping Rose and Noah will be ready for Milwaukee but admitted Noah was in bad shape Tuesday. Rose warmed up before the game before the decision was made not to play.

Orlando is 0-4, but the Bulls (3-1) had to work to earn this win. Trailing early in the fourth quarter, they took control with a quick 12-2 run.

Tony Snell and Kirk Hinrich started it off with driving lay-ins, then rookie Nikola Mirotic buried consecutive 3-pointers around a couple of Gibson free throws to make it 87-79 with 6:23 remaining.

When the Magic closed within 89-86, backup guard Aaron Brooks hit the game's biggest shot, a 3-pointer off a pass from Gasol with 2:47 left.

"That's winning basketball right there," Thibodeau said. "Pau gets the assist, but a lot of people were involved in that play."

The 3-pointer happened just a few seconds after the 6-foot Brooks exploded from the weak side to block a shot by 7-foot Orlando center Nikola Vucevic.

"I don't think he's ever going to get 3 blocks again, but you've got to give him props, and he played great all around," Gasol said.

Jimmy Butler was the Bulls' top scorer for the second straight game, with 21 points. He finished a lob and lay-in off an inbounds pass by Hinrich to make it 94-86 with 2:10 remaining.

"I think we are really confident in our offense right now," Butler said. "We have to get better on defense, no doubt about it."

Gordon happy to have found a home with Magic

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