Gordon, Deng light up Bobcats
Good or bad, these Bulls are tough to figure out.
Earlier this week, they won an ugly, defensive struggle against Atlanta. Then on Saturday at the United Center, they suddenly transformed into the Golden State Warriors.
The team that couldn't shoot straight during the first 13 games of the NBA season gave the scoreboard a thorough workout against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bulls shot 54.3 percent from the field in a 111-95 victory.
By winning two in a row for the first time this season, the Bulls improved to 4-10. They had shot less than 40 percent from the field in nine of their first 13 games.
"We stepped into (shots), looked like a confident team," coach Scott Skiles said.
The highest-scoring game by any Bulls player this season had been 27 points by Ben Gordon on opening night in New Jersey. Two Bulls beat that total against the Bobcats, as Gordon (34 points) and Luol Deng (29) both hit 13 of 21 shots from the field.
There was also further proof that the Bulls usually excel when Ben Wallace is on his game. The veteran center piled up 19 rebounds, 10 points, 5 steals and 4 blocks.
"When Ben has a game like that, we're hard to beat," Deng said.
"Last game like we played Atlanta, we felt that effort would have been a waste if we came out tonight and relaxed and went through the motions," Wallace added. "Next game, we just want to continue to build on what we've got going right now."
Wallace started slowly this season while playing through an ankle injury. He's now grabbed double-figure rebounds in six of the last eight games.
"He's been pretty active," Skiles said. "Not quite like this, but he's had games similar to this. I think it's kind of gotten lost because we've been so inept offensively."
In the first half, the Bulls shot a blistering 63.2 percent, but led just 58-57 because they coughed up 14 turnovers and couldn't keep track of Charlotte's 3-point shooters.
The Bulls trailed 62-60 early in the third quarter when Ben Gordon scored 10 points in three possessions. He knocked down 3 straight 3-pointers and was fouled by Jason Richardson on the last one. Gordon's flurry put the Bulls ahead for good and they led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter.
"Every time it left my hand, it felt like it was going in," Gordon said. "When I'm playing like myself, I usually get in a streak in the game where I make a couple shots in a row. Tonight, I got some really good looks. I was able to take and make shots in stride."
For the second game in a row, the Bulls held a huge rebound advantage (48-24). The Bobcats are one of the few teams smaller than the Bulls, with 6-foot-10 Emeka Okafor the only big man who gets significant playing time.
Charlotte (6-9) was led by Richardson with 22 points and Okafor with 21. Forward Gerald Wallace scored all 17 of his points in the first half.
The Bulls want to keep playing well, but have a difficult week ahead with Dallas at home on Monday, then a trip to Charlotte and Detroit before the revived Boston Celtics pay their first visit next Saturday.
"We've dug ourselves a hole," Skiles said. "We've got to string performances together and the way we're going to do it is by playing good defense, moving the ball and knocking down our share of open shots."