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Bulls edge Bobcats

Jan 26, 2014 - 5:51 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - D.J. Augustin scored a 28 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to an 89-87 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.

Augustin spent four years in Charlotte after being drafted in 2008.

"It's always fun playing against your old team," Augustin said. "I'm with the Bulls now and that is all that matters."

Taj Gibson scored 13 and had seven rebounds and Mike Dunleavy added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who have won four of their last five. Joakim Noah added 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Carlos Boozer contributed 10 points for the visitors.

Al Jefferson totaled 32 and grabbed 13 boards and Jannero Pargo added 15 points for Charlotte, which has lost two straight. Gerald Henderson had 11 points and six rebounds in the defeat.

"We went through a little time where we couldn't make shots. They double- teamed me and did a good job of keeping the ball out of my hands," Jefferson said.

With 18 seconds left, Gibson was fouled and knocked down the first free throw, but missed the second. Noah was the there for the rebound and gave it back to Gibson, who was fouled again. This time, Gibson sank both free throws for an 87-78 lead with 13.8 ticks showing.

Josh McRoberts buried a 3-pointer at the other end with 7.7 seconds showing, and Augustin missed a pair of free throws to keep Charlotte alive. Pargo then nailed a trey with 3.4 seconds left to make it a one possession game, but Augustin was able to sink a pair from the charity stripe to make it a five- point game.

Jefferson added a 3-pointer as time expired for the final margin.

Charlotte led, 24-22, to open the second quarter and the teams remained within four points throughout the first half as they went into the break locked in at 39-39.

The second half started with three lead changes in the first three minutes until Chicago went on an 11-4 surge to give them a 6-point lead, 53-47, with 5:06 left in the third.

The Bobcats chipped away at the lead from that point and trailed 57-55 heading into the final quarter.

To start the fourth the Bulls stretched their lead to 10 points, 67-57, thanks to a 10-2 burst. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes and the Bulls led, 75-64, with 5:33 left on the clock.

Charlotte used an 8-2 run to make the score 80-74 with 1:47 remaining in the game. No baskets were scored until Noah netted a pair from the free throw line with 31.5 seconds remaining to give Chicago an eight-point lead.

Game Notes

Kemba Walker did not dress due to a left ankle sprain suffered Jan. 18 against the Miami Heat ... The Bulls have won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Charlotte ... Noah now has 10 or more rebounds in 16 straight games the longest of his career ... Charlotte outscored the Bulls 44-26 inside the paint.