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Surging Bulls face Trail Blazers

Mar 26, 2007 - 2:23 PM Portland (29-41) at Chicago (41-30) 8:30 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bulls look to continue their second-half surge Monday when they meet the Portland Trail Blazers.

Four games back of first-place Detroit (44-25) in the Central Division, Chicago has posted a 12-5 record since the All-Star break. The Bulls are fifth overall in the Eastern Conference standings.

Ben Gordon scored 31 points while Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich added 14 apiece as the Bulls posted a 92-90 victory at Indiana on Sunday.

Chicago has won six of its last eight games.

The Trail Blazers, who are 2-1 on a four-game road trip, are five games behind the Los Angeles Clippers (34-36) for the Western Conference's final playoff spot.

On Sunday, the Blazers had a three-game winning streak stopped with a 94-93 setback at Minnesota. Rookie Brandon Roy scored 22 points and Zach Randolph returned from a three-game bereavement leave to add 19 and nine rebounds.