Raptors 106 - 113 Bulls
Final
  for this game

Bulls aim to gain ground in the East; face lowly Raptors

Apr 2, 2011 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - Chicago renews its push for the top spot in the Eastern Conference tonight when the Bulls host the lowly Toronto Raptors at the United Center.

The Central Division champion Bulls lead Miami by 2 1/2 games and Boston by three for the No. 1 seed in the East with seven games left in their season after a 101-96 win over the Detroit Pistons at The Palace on Friday. The Heat and Celtics are both idle tonight.

MVP Candidate Derrick Rose posted 27 points and seven assists against the Pistons while Carlos Boozer added 22 points, eight rebounds and seven helpers for Chicago, which has won 11 straight over its Central Division rival.

"Each day we're trying to get better. We're not worried about other teams in our conference," Boozer said. "We want to get as sharp as we can before the playoffs."

Chicago, which is an Eastern Conference-best 32-5 at home, had won 14 straight in the Windy City before falling to Philadelphia on Monday.

The Raptors, meanwhile, dropped their fifth straight game on Wednesday when Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and handed out seven assists, and Drew Gooden added 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in Milwaukee's much- needed 104-98 victory in Toronto.

Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan scored 22 and 20 points, respectively, to pace the lowly Raptors, who lost point guard Jose Calderon in the game to a strained hamstring.

"I thought the guy that hurt us was Gooden," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said. "That's why you can't double-team [Andrew] Bogut. As soon as you bring another guy, he's going to find shooters."

Calderon didn't travel to Chicago for tonight's game and has already been listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest back in Toronto against Orlando. Jerryd Bayless is expected to start in his absence.

Surprisingly, the Raptors have actually won five of their past seven trips to the Second City.






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