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Bulls try to lift city's spirits vs. Bucks

Jan 24, 2011 - 4:01 PM (Sports Network) - On Sunday a team from Wisconsin waltzed into the Windy City and ripped out the hearts of the locals when the Green Bay Packers topped the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game.

The Chicago Bulls will aim for a little revenge tonight when they entertain the Badger State's basketball club, the Milwaukee Bucks, at United Center.

With LeBron James fleeing Cleveland in the offseason these two clubs figured to be the top contenders for the Central Division crown this season. Thus far the Bulls have certainly lived up to their end of the bargain, compiling a solid 30-14 mark and opening up a more than comfortable 12 1/2-game lead over both the struggling Bucks and Indiana Pacers in the division.

Chicago improved to 2-1 on a lengthy six-game homestand Saturday when MVP candidate Derrick Rose netted 24 points and dished out eight assists to lead the Bulls past lowly Cleveland, 92-79.

Luol Deng supplied 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Carlos Boozer returned after missing three games with a sprained left ankle to contribute 20 points and 10 boards for the Bulls, who have won five of their last six overall.

"They played us tough," Boozer said. "But we made the right plays at the end of the game."

Chicago, which has won 10 of 11 at home and is a gaudy 20-4 at the United Center on the year, will finish its residency with bouts against Orlando and the Pacers.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, had a modest two-game winning streak halted on Saturday when Marc Gasol finished with 24 points and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds as Memphis used a late surge to top the Bucks, 94-81, at Bradley Center.

Earl Boykins paced Milwaukee with 23 points in a reserve role, while Andrew Bogut added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Bucks, who played without their starting backcourt of John Salmons and Brandon Jennings.

Jennings has been sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a broken toe in his left foot while Salmons was out with a right hip strain.

"It's hard to win games scoring 80 points a game," Boykins said. "It wasn't our defense tonight, we just have to make shots."

Jennings, the team's leading scorer, is hoping to return soon but remains out for tonight's contest while Salmons, along with forward Corey Maggette (sore right hand), are questionable.

The Bulls snapped a three-game skid against Milwaukee with a 90-77 triumph in the Second City back on Dec. 28.