Bulls 114 - 81 Hawks
Final
  for this game

Bulls, Hawks square off down south

Mar 22, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls are involved in a three-team race for Eastern Conference supremacy and will take their talents to the Peach State tonight for a showdown with the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

The Bulls bounced back from a loss at Indiana with last night's 132-92 blowout of Sacramento in the Windy City, as MVP candidate Derrick Rose and Kyle Korver both scored 18 points to lead eight players in double figures. Luol Deng had 17 points, Carlos Boozer posted 16 and Keith Bogans was credited with 15 points for Central Division-champion Chicago, which is tied with Boston atop the conference standings with Miami 2 1/2 games behind.

Joakim Noah and Omer Asik scored 14 points apiece while C.J. Watson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11. Boozer returned after a five-game absence because of an ankle injury and also had five boards and four assists. The Bulls went 4-1 without the power forward in the lineup.

"We are winning games, playing good basketball. The city is going crazy," Rose said of this season's success.

Chicago won for the ninth time in 10 tries, and is 19-15 away from the United Center this season. The Bulls posted their 50th win of the season for the first time since capturing a sixth NBA title in 1997-98, when they finished with an impressive 62-20 mark.

Meanwhile, Atlanta ended a two-game slide and won for just the third time in nine attempts with a 104-96 victory over Detroit on Sunday in the continuation of a six-game homestand.

Al Horford compiled 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Josh Smith posted 17 points and nine boards for the Hawks, who are 3-2 on the residency and 21-14 at home this season.

"It was real big," Smith said about the Hawks' defense. "Because giving those guys confidence we would be in for a tough night."

Joe Johnson ended with 17 points and eight assists in the win. The Hawks are fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff race and can clinch a postseason spot with a win Tuesday night.

The 2010-11 season series between Atlanta and Chicago is tied at a game apiece, with each team winning as the host. The Hawks have won nine of the previous 12 matchups with the Bulls, losers in six straight at Philips Arena.






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