• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Gordon, Bulls get back on track, blow out Bobcats

Dec 24, 2006 - 5:34 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- After Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls took their lumps Friday night, the Charlotte Bobcats were just the medicine to make them feel good again.

Gordon scored 23 points off the bench, including 18 in the second quarter, as the Bulls posted a 115-76 blowout victory against the Bobcats.

Andres Nocioni had 21 points and 11 rebounds and rookie reserve Thabo Sefolosha had a season-high 14 points for Chicago, which returned home after suffering a disappointing 103-92 loss at New York on Friday night, ending the Bulls' five-game winning streak.

"Last night stung us a little bit, and we used that for motivation," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "We were on tonight and our guys were into the game from the beginning. It was pretty clear we were going after it all night."

"As a unit we are playing much better right now," Nocioni said. "We just need to forget about that loss to New York because for the most part our offense is playing with a lot of confidence."

Gordon shot 10-of-14 from the field, including 8-of-9 in the second quarter for the Bulls, who outscored the Bobcats by five points in the first period, 11 in the second, 10 in the third and 13 in the final quarter.

"I just tried to come into the game and give the team a spark tonight," Gordon said. "I was able to do that in the second quarter because the guys kept finding me open. I was definitely feeling it out there. Some nights you just know the ball will go in the hoop."

Rookie Tyrus Thomas also had 14 points off the bench for Chicago, which has won five straight at home and improved to 11-2 at the United Center.

Reserve Melvin Ely scored 13 points and Raymond Felton and Primoz Brezec each had 10 for the Bobcats, who are just 2-7 all-time vs. the Bulls.

"They made shots and we didn't, it was that simple," Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor said. "They just kept putting the ball in the basket. They played with a lot of energy tonight."

The 39-point loss was the worst ever for Charlotte.

"Right from the start they just kept picking up speed and ran us into the ground," Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "The way they balanced their attack was the key to the game. They just kicked our butt in every catagory."