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Streaking Bulls visit reeling Bobcats

Mar 9, 2011 - 4:03 PM (Sports Network) - Tom Thibodeau is making a case for Coach of the Year and will guide his Chicago Bulls into Charlotte tonight for a showdown with the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Thibodeau's club has won three straight and 10 of the last 12 games, including Monday's 85-77 triumph over the New Orleans Hornets at the United Center. Derrick Rose finished with 24 points and nine assists, while Carlos Boozer posted 19 points and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who were coming off a huge win in Miami and recorded their ninth straight home win.

"It was a big win for us tonight, we just have to keep improving and getting better," Bulls forward Joakim Noah said.

Noah had six points and 13 rebounds, while Luol Deng contributed 10 points in a winning effort. The Bulls will return home for a three-game residency following tonight's game in Charlotte.

Chicago, seeded second in the East, is 17-14 on the road this year. The last time it posted a winning road record was in 1997-98, when the Bulls compiled a 25-16 mark. The Bulls are 42-6 this season when they hold their opponents under 100 points and 2-12 when allowing 100-plus points.

The Bobcats are hoping to reach the playoffs in back-to-back years and for the second time in franchise history. They are one game off the eighth and final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference and have lost five in a row, including Monday's 92-87 loss versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gerald Henderson had 20 points and Boris Diaw compiled 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Charlotte, which opened a three-game homestand on a sour note and is 16-15 as the host. The Bobcats had a three-game home winning streak come to an end and will also welcome Portland to town.

"We have to make baskets," Henderson said. "We just couldn't score. We played well, but we just have to execute."

Bobcats guard Matt Carroll left the game with a left ankle sprain he suffered in the second quarter and did not return. Carroll is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against Chicago.

Charlotte leads the season series with the Bulls by a 2-1 count, but Chicago has won five of the previous eight meetings between the two clubs. These two teams have split the 12 meetings at Charlotte.