Final
Bulls entertain Bucks in Central Division clash
Dec 28, 2010 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Central Division rivals will go at it for the first time this season tonight, as the Chicago Bulls are slated to host the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center.The Bucks took three of four meetings from Chicago a season ago after the Bulls had won 10 of the previous 12 contests in the series. Milwaukee has dropped eight of nine and 15 of the last 18 bouts in the Windy City.
Chicago will begin a four-game homestand Tuesday versus the Bucks, Nets, Cavaliers and Raptors, and is 11-3 in the Second City this season. It went 2-1 on a three-game road trip culminated by a 95-92 overtime triumph in Detroit on Sunday. Carlos Boozer led the charge with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while All-Star Derrick Rose collected 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Bulls, winners in 10 of their last 12 games.
"On the road you're not always going to get the call you get at home," Boozer said. "You're not always going to make the shots you normally hit. Sometimes you have to win ugly. We'll take a win any way we can get it. In the NBA nothing's given to you, you have to earn it, especially on the road."
The Bulls bounced back from a Christmas Day loss in New York. Rose is third in the Eastern Conference with 24.3 points per game and is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 24.0 ppg and 8.0 apg this season. Boozer is posting 25.8 points and 12.8 boards in his last four games with four double-doubles. Luol Deng had 10 points in the win over the Pistons and has scored in double figures in 25 consecutive games.
The current Central Division-leading Bulls are 17-3 this season when they hold their opponents under 100 points and 2-7 when they allow 100 or more points.
Milwaukee will try for its third straight win on the road tonight and is 5-10 away from the Bradley Center this season.
The Bucks have lost four of their last six games overall, including Monday's 95-80 home defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. John Salmons had 18 points, Keyon Dooling finished with 15 points and nine assists and Andrew Bogut compiled 14 points and 11 boards in a losing effort.
"We weren't aggressive at either end," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "They handled us pretty easy. It was worse than the score appeared."
Skiles' squad was battered on the boards to the tune of a 47-33 count. Earl Boykins had 13 points off the bench in a losing effort. Bucks forward Drew Gooden missed his third straight game and eighth overall with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and is questionable for tonight.
- MILWAUKEE: 77
CHICAGO: 90
Final
Dec 28 10:21 PM - MILWAUKEE: 62
CHICAGO: 67
End of 3rd
Dec 28 9:48 PM - MILWAUKEE: 45
CHICAGO: 44
Halftime
Dec 28 9:06 PM - MILWAUKEE: 15
CHICAGO: 27
End of 1st
Dec 28 8:34 PM
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