Bulls run past Bucks' defense

When he coached the Bulls, Scott Skiles' teams were always among the best in the league defensively. During Friday's game, though, Milwaukee gave up 17 fastbreak points in the second quarter alone, foiling their coach's strategy.

"Our No. 1 priority going into the game was to get back (on defense) and we couldn't do it," Skiles said. "We didn't make the effort to do it. We looked at six, seven, eight clips at halftime of literally guys just jogging while the Bulls are running by us and he's dressing up wide-open 3s."

The Bulls improved to 24-10 when they score at least 100 points, which helps prove that they are most dangerous when playing at a fast tempo.

"We did a great job of getting out in transition and making the right plays," Ben Gordon said. "Every time we got a rebound, it seemed like almost every time we converted."

Hinrich joins injured list: Kirk Hinrich played less than five minutes in the second half of Friday's win because of a bruised right quad. Coach Vinny Del Negro said Hinrich was kicked on the inside of his knee.

"It was pretty painful for him because he was limping out there," Del Negro said. "He wanted to come out one time and I said, 'No, you can't come out right now.' Because I didn't have any real bodies to go with."

Of the three Bulls who sat out Thursday's practice, Tyrus Thomas (right hip strain) started Friday and played 30 minutes. Luol Deng (right shin contusion) sat out this third straight game. Tim Thomas (left knee strain) logged 14 minutes after sitting out the previous two contests.

Tim Thomas said Thursday his pain stretched from the center of his knee into his quad, which is why the injury was also called a quad tendon strain at times.

Skiles sees better Bulls: Bucks coach Scott Skiles on the new-look Bulls, who added four players since last facing Milwaukee on Feb. 18.

"Salmons has played very well," he said before the game. "You'd think we'd be catching a break tonight, maybe, with Luol (Deng) not playing. But he's played so well. And (Brad) Miller does what he does. He's a big body, a skilled guy. They look better to me. It seems to me that trade helped."

Bull horns: Tyrus Thomas set a franchise record Friday by registering at least 1 blocked shot in 24 straight games. Ben Wallace (2006-07) and Jawann Oldham (1984-85) previously shared the mark. ... Joakim Noah missed his second free-throw attempt of Friday's game, ending his streak at 15.