76ers 80 - 89 Bulls
Final
  for this game

76ers face another tough test in Chicago

Mar 17, 2012 - 3:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers will go from one Eastern Conference contender to another when they take on the top-seeded Chicago Bulls tonight from the United Center.

Philadelphia dropped an 84-78 decision to the Miami Heat last night at Wells Fargo Center, and a late rally wasn't enough to avoid back-to-back losses. The Sixers were down by a 57-30 score at halftime, then outscored the Heat, 48-27, over the final 24 minutes of the game.

Evan Turner logged 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out five assists, while Lou Williams netted 12 off the bench for the 76ers, who have lost four of seven games and still own a 1 1/2-game lead over Boston for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. All-Star Andre Iguodala was busy with 11 points, 10 boards, four assists and three steals in a losing cause.

"Obviously as disappointing as the first half was, the second half was encouraging," Sixers head coach Doug Collins said. "We didn't do anything different. We just competed."

The Sixers finished 35.5 percent from the field and are currently seeded fourth in the conference standings. They will also visit Charlotte on the quick road trip and own a 9-10 record away from south Philly.

Center Spencer Hawes did not play versus Miami and returned from a 17-game absence in Wednesday's loss at Indiana, scoring six points in less than 20 minutes. Hawes has been dealing with an Achilles injury and is questionable for tonight.

Philadelphia could catch a break Saturday if Bulls reigning MVP Derrick Rose misses his third consecutive game with a groin injury. Rose has missed 12 games this season due to various ailments and is averaging 22.8 points and 8.0 assists in 2011-12. He is questionable for tonight.

Chicago could have used Rose's services in Friday's 100-89 loss to Portland, as Carlos Boozer did all he could with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Luol Deng netted 19 points and Joakim Noah posted 12 and nine boards for the Central Division-leading Bulls, who had won three in a row and fell to 3-2 on a six- game homestand.

"Settling, not executing, not screening, not putting the work into it, taking shortcuts," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said of his team's performance. "You don't put the work into it, you're not going to win."

The Bulls are 18-4 at home and still own the best record in the NBA at 36-10. They are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Heat for conference supremacy and will begin a two-game trek against Orlando and Toronto on Monday.

Chicago and Philadelphia have split a pair of meetings this season -- both at the Sixers. These two teams have split the past eight encounters in the Second City as well. The Bulls have not lost consecutive games in the regular season since Feb. 5-7, 2011, a span of 78 games.






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