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Bulls-Wizards Preview

Apr 2, 2010 - 2:21 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (35-39) at Washington (22-52), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Bulls have taken advantage of a lighter stretch in their schedule to stay alive for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Confidence.

Before the slate becomes more challenging, the Bulls on Friday night visit the last-place Washington Wizards, who look to record back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-February.

Chicago (35-39) is two games behind Toronto for the final postseason berth. The Raptors, who are idle Friday, own the tiebreaker and will host the Bulls on April 11.

Following a 10-game losing streak, the Bulls have won four of their last six to stay close to Toronto in the standings. The victories all came against teams with records at or below .500.

However, Chicago has split two games against Washington (22-52) this season with each team victorious at home. The Bulls are looking to avoid another setback in the nation's capital especially since this is one of two remaining games against opponents with losing records.

Chicago has had to contend with injuries recently, although that situation seems to be getting better. Joakim Noah continues to improve after being limited over the last month because of plantar fasciitis, and Luol Deng - out the last 11 games with a calf strain - is expected to return either Friday or Saturday against Charlotte, according to the Bulls' official Web site.

Chicago is also optimistic that Kirk Hinrich, who sat out the second half of the Bulls' 111-105 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday with a sprained ankle, will be available to face Washington.

Derrick Rose and Flip Murray each scored 23 points in the loss as Chicago gave up 14 3-pointers.

"We have not been able to get over the hump against some of the better teams," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "It just comes down to getting some stops. Thirty points is too many (to allow) in the fourth quarter."

The Bulls also failed to contain the Wizards the last time the two met, allowing them to shoot 50.6 percent in a 101-95 loss on Feb. 22.

Andray Blatche scored 25 points in what has turned out to be Washington's most recent win at the Verizon Center, where the Wizards will try to snap an eight-game slide.

Blatche will be looking for another big game as he continues to shine late in the season. He's averaging 22.6 points over the last five games and scored 23 in Washington's 96-91 win over New Orleans on Wednesday.

That halted a franchise-record 16-game losing streak and was the Wizards' first win since Feb. 28. They shot 55.9 percent and got 27 points and seven rebounds from Mike Miller.

"People were saying we were not going to get a win in March, and we got one," guard Nick Young said. "We got that monkey off our back and we have to keep going."

The Wizards haven't won consecutive games since Feb. 17 and 19 against Minnesota and Denver, respectively.