Bulls build huge lead, coast to win

This was definitely a day for scoreboard watching.

Not that any of the out-of-town games meant much to the Bulls. But the home team was on shaky ground after blowing fourth-quarter leads of 9 and 18 points in its last two outings against New Orleans and Philadelphia, respectively.

So when the Bulls sprinted to a 25-point advantage Tuesday against the New Jersey Nets, the unavoidable question was, "How far would it fall?"

Nets stars Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson went to work and had their team within 79-68 by the end of the third quarter. A couple of free throws dropped the lead down to 9 a minute into the final quarter.

This time, the Bulls didn't fold. Of course, the Nets didn't figure to bring the same sort of fourth-quarter fortitude as the previous two opponents, but it still counts as a much-needed win.

Once New Jersey pulled within 9, the Bulls responded with a 15-2 run and were able to finish off a fairly routine 112-96 victory at the United Center.

"The thing we tried to preach to the guys is to play with some poise," coach Jim Boylan said. "Let's not panic out there. Let's keep moving the ball, take our shots, be aggressive, but be smart. I thought we did that."

Before the game, Boylan called this a crucial matchup for the Bulls, since the Nets are one of the teams battling for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls (27-40) are still in 10th place in the East. They trail eighth-place Atlanta by 2 games, while New Jersey (28-39) is in ninth, 1 game behind the Hawks. The Bulls play Atlanta twice next week.

"If we lose this game, it's really, really difficult for us to get back, I think, in the playoff picture," Boylan said. "Not impossible by any means. But it would have made our job a lot harder.

"So it gives our guys a sense of hope and that's what you always want. You want to have a feeling that you can make something happen. That's what those guys are feeling right now."

The Nets led 26-22 with 1:31 left in the first quarter. The Bulls scored the final 7 points of that quarter, then outscored New Jersey 29-8 in the second to take a 24-point lead by intermission.

Once the Bulls' advantage shrunk to 9, Ben Gordon answered with a jumper. Then Kirk Hinrich may have hit the most important basket of the game, dropping in a 3-pointer after standing all alone in the corner for about 10 seconds.

Luol Deng led the Bulls with 20 points, while Drew Gooden had 19 and Gordon 17.