Bulls find the range in big win over Timberwolves
Bulls guard John Salmons endured some taunting in the locker room following Saturday's 110-96 victory over Minnesota.
Lindsey Hunter pointed out that Salmons wore a green shirt, supposedly in tribute to his hometown Philadelphia Eagles, who lost a playoff game badly while the Bulls rolled past the Timberwolves at the United Center.
At no time did anyone show appreciation for Salmons' recent stretch of improved outside shooting. Locker room humor can be cruel sometimes.
But it's true that Salmons has been on an impressive roll as a long-range shooter. During the past eight games, he's knocked down 15 of 26 attempts from 3-point range, good for 57.7 percent.
"Shooting comes and goes. You've got to ride it while it's hot," Salmons shrugged. "I haven't been doing anything different."
The Bulls have been among the league's worst all season in 3-point shooting percentage, but made 7 of 14 shots against Minnesota. In the last three games, they're a shocking 20-for-42 from behind the arc.
Kirk Hinrich, who accounted for 4 of the Bulls' 3-point baskets and a season-high 20 points, offered an explanation.
"I just think the ball's moving a lot more," he said. "Usually when you're doing a good job moving the ball and sharing the ball, you get open threes and they're easier to knock them down."
True, the Bulls did pile up 26 assists on their way to a season-high scoring total and 52 percent shooting.
"Offensively, we have so much more flow," Hinrich added. "We're taking better shots, we're doing a good job of finding the open man, making the right basketball play. I just think that's the cause of it."
The Bulls (15-20) broke a few losing streaks with this win. It was their first victory in the second leg of back-to-back games in eight tries this season. They'd also lost three in a row overall.
After falling behind 14-4 early in the contest, the Bulls dominated the rest of the way against the struggling Timberwolves (8-30) and produced a surprising 48-30 edge in points in the paint.
Minnesota center Al Jefferson scored 25.8 points per game in his last four against the Bulls. He may not be quite the same after a suffering a knee injury late last season, but finished with just 12 points on Saturday, while Noah piled up 20 points, 1 short of his career high.
"I think he's definitely somebody that you're on edge the night before when you have to play Al Jefferson," Noah said. "That's a good compliment, I guess. I think we just felt like we needed to be the hungrier team tonight."
Things were going so well for the Bulls, they didn't even need much from Derrick Rose, who finished with 8 points and 7 assists. Coach Vinny Del Negro was able to give an extended run to improving rookie James Johnson (6 points, 1 monster dunk) and sent guard Jannero Pargo and center Aaron Gray onto the court for the first time in a few weeks.
"After a situation like yesterday, losing to Milwaukee in a tough way, to come back as a team with the right focus and right energy and win today, it's a good feeling," Noah added.