• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Streaking Bulls entertain Hawks in Windy City

Mar 11, 2011 - 4:08 PM (Sports Network) - The Central Division-champion Chicago Bulls will shoot for their fifth straight win tonight, when they open a three-game homestand versus the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center.

Chicago will also host Utah and Washington, is 27-4 at home and has ripped off nine straight wins in the Second City. The Bulls have not won 10 consecutive games as the host since Feb. 28 - April 11, 1998.

The Bulls recorded a 101-84 triumph in Charlotte on Wednesday thanks to 20 points from both Derrick Rose and Kyle Korver. Joakim Noah tallied 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who lost forward Carlos Boozer to an ankle injury. Boozer is expected to miss Friday's game.

"We tend to pick up our defense in the fourth quarter," Rose said. "We came together and played defense."

Chicago is closing in on the top spot in the East and is 1 1/2 games behind Boston for conference bragging rights.

Atlanta has lost three in a row, including Tuesday's 101-87 loss at home to the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers at Philips Arena.

Al Horford led Atlanta with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Josh Smith scored 16 points in a losing effort.

"I can't fault my team's effort tonight. We ran up against a really good team," Hawks head coach Larry Drew said. "We're not going to hang our heads, and we're not going to feel sorry for ourselves."

The Hawks are 19-15 away from Dixie and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Their last win was an 83-80 victory versus the Bulls on March 2 at Philips Arena, as Horford scored 22 of his career-high tying 31 points in the second half in that one.

Atlanta has won three straight and eight of nine meetings with the Bulls, but has lost 10 of 14 trips to the Windy City.