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Bulls entertain Nets in Second City

Dec 31, 2010 - 3:47 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls will continue a four-game homestand when they entertain the New Jersey Nets Friday afternoon from the United Center.

Chicago opened the residency with a 90-77 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night, as Luol Deng contributed 24 points and scored in double-digits for the 26th consecutive time. Carlos Boozer also had 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Bulls, winners in two straight and 11 of their last 13.

All-Star guard Derrick Rose added 18 points and 12 assists in the win.

"We did a good job in the fourth quarter," Deng said of Chicago's 23-15 edge in the final frame. "At the end of the day it is a win. Nobody is going to look at how you got it. We are starting to learn as a team that the most important thing is winning the game."

The Bulls will also host Cleveland and Toronto in the Windy City and is 12-3 as the host this season. They are 7-2 at home this month and are averaging 102.6 ppg at the United Center. Boozer has posted a double-double in four of his last five games, averaging 25.4 points and 12.0 rebounds in that span.

Rose, the only player in the NBA who is currently averaging at least 24.0 ppg and 8.0 apg, posted his ninth double-double of the season after registering six in all of the 2009-10 campaign. The Bulls are 18-3 this season when they hold their opponents under 100 points and 2-7 when they yield 100-plus points.

New Jersey will try to put the brakes on a three-game slide when it continues a three-game road trip Friday.

The Nets opened the trek with Wednesday's 114-93 setback in Oklahoma City, as Devin Harris and Brook Lopez led the Nets with 19 points apiece. The Nets had 23 turnovers and got 12 points from Travis Outlaw.

"In that second quarter they really turned it on us," said Nets coach Avery Johnson, whose team was outscored, 33-22, in the second stanza and has dropped 12 of its last 15 games. "That just switched the momentum. You don't have any defense for turnovers."

New Jersey is just 3-14 outside of Newark this season and will also make a stop in Minnesota on the road swing. Nets guard Jordan Farmar is listed as doubtful for Friday's game with a sore right knee. Farmar is averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 assists in his first year with New Jersey after spending the previous four years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nets and Bulls are meeting for the first time since New Jersey took two of three meetings in the series a year ago. New Jersey has lost five of six visits to the Second City.