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Bulls drop Raptors but lose Noah

Dec 16, 2010 - 5:00 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Carlos Boozer scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, as the streaking Chicago Bulls dominated the Toronto Raptors, 110-93, at Air Canada Centre.

It was not all good news for the Bulls, who have won seven in a row for the first time since the 2006-07 season, as center Joakim Noah will have surgery on Thursday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. Noah had 11 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of action Wednesday, but will miss the next 8-10 weeks following the procedure.

"It's a long-term decision," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I am confident that we have more than enough players to get through this."

Luol Deng tallied 19 points for Chicago, which got 13 points from Kyle Korver. Derrick Rose played through multiple injuries, including a sprained right wrist, and chipped in with six points and 11 assists.

Leandro Barbosa ended with 21 points off the bench for the Raptors, who have lost two straight and six of seven overall. Jerryd Bayless finished with 20 points in defeat.

The Bulls never looked back after scoring the first six points of the contest. Chicago led by as many as nine in the first quarter and held a 23-18 edge after 12 minutes.

Ahead by five, 30-25, early in the second frame, the Bulls put together a 12-4 run to create some breathing room. Korver tallied four points during the flurry, which Ronnie Brewer capped with a tip-in for a 42-29 margin with 6:47 remaining.

Holding a 10-point lead moments later, Chicago went on a 13-2 surge. Boozer had six points during the burst, including a layup with one minute left to make it a 61-40 game.

"[Boozer's] one of the premier power forwards in the league...Our young guys have to play against that and they have to learn how to be like that," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said.

The Bulls shot 59.5 percent from the field in the first half to take a 63-44 lead into the locker room.

Chicago cruised to victory in the second half.

Game Notes

Toronto took two of three matchups from Chicago a season ago...Raptors guard Jose Calderon missed his fourth straight game with a sore left foot...The Raptors started a four-game homestand on Wednesday...Chicago made 53.1 percent of its shots, while Toronto shot 44.2 percent from the field.