Bulls wake up in the nick of time
Several Bulls players have complained that they don't like day games. On Friday, they went out and proved it.
In an often unsightly New Year's Eve matinee, the Bulls shot 39 percent from the field and had trouble putting away the struggling New Jersey Nets.
But once again, the alarm clocks finally went off and the Bulls did just enough to beat an inferior team. With the 90-81 victory over the Nets at the United Center, the Bulls improved to 15-1 against teams that currently have a losing record.
Maybe when Cleveland visits Saturday for a night game, the Bulls will start 2011 with a more pleasant performance.
“We didn't start playing hard, really, until the end,” guard Derrick Rose said after the contest. “Usually, you're taking naps right now or getting ready, putting your clothes on, heading to the game. That's why it's the NBA. It's going to be a challenge.”
Center Kurt Thomas, 38, is another who admits to disliking day games.
“I've never been a morning person and I know that,” Thomas said. “You've just got to find a way to get yourself up and ready to go. Definitely for myself, it's tough getting a little bit older, but you just find a way.”
The Bulls (21-10) opened an 11-point lead in the second quarter and went up 10 in the third. The Nets kept clawing back, thanks to a couple players who have given the Bulls problems in the past, center Brook Lopez (19 points) and forward Travis Outlaw (16).
Guard Stephen Graham, who played three games for the Bulls in 2005-06, poured in 16 points, 3 off his career-high. The Nets (9-24) played without shooting guard Anthony Morrow (hamstring), backup point Jordan Farmar (knee) and center Troy Murphy (flu).
The Bulls survived thanks to Carlos Boozer piling up 20 points and 15 rebounds. Rose and Luol Deng added 19 points each. Ronnie Brewer had 10 points, giving the Bulls their first double-figure scoring game off the bench in more than a week.
“Right now, we're grinding games out,” Boozer said. “We're not having too many easy wins. But another mark of a good team is finding different ways to win. We are playing without Joakim (Noah) still. I know we haven't talked about it very much, but he makes the game a lot easier for us.”
New Jersey closed within 75-73 midway through the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie it up. Outlaw missed a jumper and the Nets grabbed the rebound, but Kyle Korver was able to strip the ball from Lopez.
On the other end, the Bulls finally started moving the ball against New Jersey's zone defense. Korver found Boozer for a layup and 3-point play. Rose added 2 free throws on the next trip and the home team had a bit of breathing room at 80-73 with 5:24 remaining.
There wasn't much drama down the stretch. New Jersey missed some good looks, while better Bulls ball movement produced a Thomas lay in and Boozer dunk.
“You've got to win different ways,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We were struggling offensively, but the defense was good. I would have liked to get the ball in the paint a little more than we did tonight.”
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: A few days before LeBron James returned to Cleveland with Miami, the Cavaliers owned a 7-9 record. Since then, they've lost 15 of 16 games. The Bulls had a close call in Cleveland on Dec. 8, though, trailing by 6 with about three minutes remaining before rallying to win 88-83. A couple of veterans are the top scorers, guard Mo Williams at 15.3 points and Antawn Jamison at 14.8. Williams sat out Wednesday's game at Charlotte with a hip injury and guard Daniel Gibson left that night with a thigh problem. Both players are questionable for Saturday's contest.
Next: Toronto Raptors on Tuesday at the United Center, 7 p.m.
Mike McGraw's game tracker
Bulls 90, Nets 81
<B>Good riddance: </B>The Bulls closed out 2010 with an ugly performance. Both teams shot less than 40 percent from the field, but the Bulls never gave up the lead in the second half against the lowly Nets. The Bulls have gone 12-2 since Dec. 4 and are now 15-1 against teams that have losing records.
<B>Right time of year:</B> This New Year's Eve game featured plenty of Booz. Power forward Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng scored 19 points each.
<B>History doesn't repeat: </B>Last season, the Nets finished 12-70 but somehow beat the Bulls twice. “It was a brave effort by our team tonight,” said Nets coach Avery Johnson.