Bulls 114 - 101 Clippers
Final
  for this game

Paul, Clippers host Rose's Bulls

Dec 30, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - Two of the NBA's top point guards headline things in Hollywood tonight as Chris Paul and the Clippers welcome Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls to Staples Center for LA's home opener.

The Clips, who are kicking off a four-game homestand tonight, failed to follow up on a season-opening win at Golden State when they were routed in San Antonio, 115-90, on Wednesday. Blake Griffin had 28 points and pulled down nine boards in that one while Paul scored 10 and dished out nine assists.

"They were just scoring at will," Paul said of the Spurs. "We talked about it since day one, the only way we can get to where we would like to be is defensively."

Caron Butler and Mo Williams both scored 12 and Chauncey Billups had 11 points for the Clippers, who shot just 39.2 percent from the field compared to 56.3 for San Antonio.

"They (the Spurs) shot it really well," Clips coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They hit some tough shots when they had to. But you expect that. They have been together for awhile."

LA will also host Portland, Houston and Milwaukee on its current residency.

The Bulls, meanwhile, will be finishing up a four-game California road trip tonight. Chicago improved to 2-1 on the trek in Sacramento on Thursday when Rose dropped 19 points and dished out eight assists, leading Chicago to a 108-98 win over the Kings at Power Balance Pavilion.

Carlos Boozer finished with a double-double on 16 points and 15 rebounds, while Richard Hamilton also had 16 points for the Bulls.

Luol Deng added 12 points and six rebounds, while Ronnie Brewer donated 12 points off the bench for Chicago, which took control from the outset with a 19-5 run to start the contest.

"The first five minutes of the game, we got out and got some easy baskets," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "It was triggered off of our defense and that's the first priority, to get the defense established, and that gets us in the open floor and makes the game a lot easier."

Chicago snapped a three-game skid to the Clippers with a 106-88 rout in LA back in February of last season.






Related News