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Bulls pummel Bobcats

Feb 23, 2013 - 5:15 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Taj Gibson scored 17 points off the bench as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Bobcats, 105-75, on Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Gibson, one of eight Bulls to score in double-digits, was 8-of-11 from the field for Chicago, which came into the game off a loss against Miami on Thursday.

Luol Deng had 14 points and five rebounds, while Nate Robinson, Jimmy Butler and Marco Belinelli scored 12 points apiece. Carlos Boozer recorded a double- double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

"We liked the way were able to bounce back after a bad loss," said Gibson. "Last year we wouldn't allow ourselves to lose two straight games. We need that same mindset."

Kemba Walker had a game-high 27 points for the Bobcats, who lost their second straight and 10 of their past 12 games. Walker was 9-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

"Those guys just know where they are supposed to be," said Walker. "They help really well. They do their coverages really well. They are a really good defensive team. They communicate, they move. They play really good defense."

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Bismack Biyombo recorded seven points and 12 rebounds.

Leading 24-15 after the first quarter, the Bulls went on a 16-4 run in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second to take a 40-19 lead. Chicago remained in control for the rest of the game.

Charlotte tried to come back and was able to cut the deficit to 51-37 by the end of the half.

However, it was the closest the Bobcats were able to get.

Chicago extended its lead even to 22, 73-51 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter, before a 3-pointer and a three-point play by Walker put the Bobcats within 73-57, with 1:23 to go.

A pair of free throws by Joakim Noah and a 3-pointer by Deng with seconds left gave the Bulls a 78-57 lead into the fourth.

With a commanding lead, all of Chicago's starters, except for Noah, were out of the game in the fourth. Chicago, though, still outscored Charlotte 27-18 in the frame.

Game Notes

Chicago has won five of their six past games against Charlotte ... Charlotte's three highest-paid players -- Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Gana Diop -- and Josh McRoberts, who was acquired in a trade from Orlando on Thursday, did not play ... Michael Jordan, Bobcats' owner and former Bulls star, sat at the end of the Charlotte bench, but left with about three minutes left in the first half and did not return.