Bulls hope Gasol's return is close
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is hoping to have Pau Gasol back by next Wednesday's game against New York. Gasol missed his fourth straight game with a sore right knee on Saturday.
"He'll hopefully do some stuff (Sunday), probably not contact, but hopefully get him cutting and moving," Hoiberg said. "Get him a workout, whether he plays or not, for the shootaround on Monday, then hopefully get him back for a full practice on Tuesday and hopefully get him back for that next game for sure."
Meanwhile, the Bulls expect guard E'Twaun Moore to miss at least a week with a left hamstring injury, suffered in the first quarter against Brooklyn on Thursday.
"The initial diagnosis after looking at the MRI and the swelling that he has in there is the recovery should be about a week," Hoiberg said. "Now whether that's being able to go full speed in practice or that's back into a game has yet to be determined."
Nobody has played in all 68 games for the Bulls this season. Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott lead with 67 games each.
Bulls looking long:
The Bulls are trying to develop their long-range game. Against Brooklyn on Thursday, they made 11 baskets from 3-point range. That's the 14th time this season they've made at least 10 in a game.
They rank high in accuracy, not so much in volume. The Bulls are tied for third with Toronto in 3-point percentage at .369. In 3-pointers made per game, though, they rank 23rd with 7.7
"I think we turn some down at times and maybe force up a long two, which isn't as high percentage a shot," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "Try to manufacture as many as you can, when you're open you've got to shoot them."
Felicio gets a start:
Coach Fred Hoiberg shook up the starters Saturday, using rookie Cristiano Felicio for the first time all season at center.
The plan was to match up with Utah's big front line of 7-1 Rudy Gobert and 6-10 Derrick Favors with Felicio and Taj Gibson. The Bulls had been starting Gibson and Nikola Mirotic with Pau Gasol sidelined with a sore right knee.
The move paid some dividends. The Bulls hit their first 7 shots from the field and took an early 15-6 lead over the Jazz.
Bull horns:
Over the last six games, the Bulls are shooting 88.1 percent from the foul line, best in the NBA. They went 15-for-15 against the Nets on Thursday. … Utah top scorer Gordon Hayward returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games with plantar fasciitis. … Bobby Portis' 8 offensive rebounds against Brooklyn were the most by a Bulls player this season.