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MVP candidate Rose leads Bulls into Washington

Feb 28, 2011 - 4:00 PM (Sports Network) - MVP candidate Derrick Rose and the Central Division-leading Chicago Bulls continue their five-game road trip tonight with a showdown against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

The Bulls won for the 12th time in the past 15 contests with Saturday's 83-75 triumph in Milwaukee, as Luol Deng and Rose scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, in a winning effort. Carlos Boozer scored 13 points for Chicago, which is 14-13 as the guest and will also visit Atlanta, Orlando and Miami.

"They're a tough defensive team, we're a tough defensive team, something had to give in the second half," Boozer said. "At halftime we thought we did a good job on 'D' but we thought on offense we missed a couple of things we usually do well. In the second half, we executed much better."

Joakim Noah tacked on eight points and 17 rebounds, and has shown no signs of missing 30 games due to right thumb surgery. Noah has played three games since and helped the Bulls to a 12-0 mark against the Central Division.

Chicago is fighting for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and is only two games behind Boston in the standings. Miami is second at a half-game back of the Celtics.

Meanwhile, Washington has lost five in a row and started a four-game homestand on a sour note, dropping a 105-99 decision to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

Rookie John Wall had 24 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Rashard Lewis added 13 points for the Wizards, who have lost three in a row in DC and fell to 14-15 in the nation's capital this season.

The Wizards made just 6-of-16 free throws.

"It's frustrating to miss free throws," Wall said. "Throughout the whole second half I think we were 3-for-10 from the free throw line. You can't do that against a very good team."

Washington will also host Golden State and Minnesota on the homestand. Wall leads all Eastern Conference rookies in scoring and assists this month, and is averaging more than 20 points in his last six games. Andray Blatche has missed back-to-back games with a hip injury and is questionable for tonight. Al Thornton is also questionable versus Chicago with an ankle sprain.

Chicago has defeated the Wizards twice already this season and three times in a row, and is 7-2 over the previous nine matchups between the teams. The Bulls have won five of their last seven contests at Washington.