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Bulls battle Jazz in Windy City

Mar 12, 2011 - 4:05 PM (Sports Network) - MVP candidate Derrick Rose and the Central Division- champion Chicago Bulls will shoot for their sixth straight win tonight, when they resume a three-game homestand versus the Utah Jazz.

The Bulls won for the fifth straight time with Friday's 94-76 drubbing of the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center, as Rose poured in 34 points and Luol Deng added 18, nine rebounds and seven assists.

"We just came out and played great basketball," Bulls reserve Taj Gibson said. "It's a team atmosphere in the locker room, everybody plays together."

Rose has scored 20 or more points during the winning streak for the Bulls, winners in 10 straight as the host. Chicago is 28-4 in the Second City this season and only a half-game behind Boston for the top seed in the East.

Chicago played without forward Carlos Boozer, who is dealing with a sprained left ankle and could miss another game tonight. The Bulls will also welcome the Washington Wizards to town on the homestand.

Utah will wrap up a four-game road trip Saturday night and has dropped two of three games so far on the swing and 10 of 13 contests overall.

In Friday's 122-101 loss at Minnesota, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love pushed his record double-double streak to 53 games with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Jazz were led by Gordon Hayward's 18 points in a reserve role and are 3-9 since legendary head coach Jerry Sloan stepped down and Tyrone Corbin took over on February 10.

"We've been up and down. A game like tonight, we just didn't have effort and that's pretty much what it comes down to," said Jazz reserve C.J. Miles, who scored 15 points.

Jeremy Evans finished with 14 points in the loss. Forward Paul Millsap missed his second straight game with left knee tendinitis and is averaging 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds this season. He is questionable for this evening.

Utah is still only two games off the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It is 16-17 away from Salt Lake City, however.

Chicago topped Utah, 91-86, on Feb. 9 back in the Mormon State, as Rose led the way with 29 points and Boozer made his return to EnergySolutions Arena for the first time since signing with the Bulls in the offseason. Boozer had 14 points and six boards in that one.