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Bulls seek bounce back, host Raptors

Apr 9, 2013 - 2:30 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls are coming off a disappointing loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons and look to bounce back Tuesday at home versus the Toronto Raptors from the United Center.

The Bulls had won 18 in a row against the Pistons, but it was a case of familiarity breeding contempt in Sunday's 99-85 setback.

Carlos Boozer paced the Bulls with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough to make up for the absence of Luol Deng, who did not dress due to a sore hip. Nate Robinson had 18 and Joakim Noah returned to the lineup after missing the last eight games to post 13 points and seven rebounds.

"You can't use that as an excuse," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said about playing shorthanded. "Whoever is out there, we have to go out and get the job done."

Deng and Noah are both questionable Tuesday for the Bulls, who had won six of eight games and are fifth in the East standings -- two games behind Brooklyn and one ahead of Atlanta.

The Bulls will try to extend their home winning streak to five games and are 22-16 in the Second City this season. They will also host New York on this quick homestand.

Toronto is playing out the string and will wrap up a three-game road trip Tuesday against the Bulls.

The Raptors had a two-game winning streak stopped and lost for the eighth time in 11 tries with Saturday's 100-83 setback at Milwaukee. Alan Anderson and Quincy Acy scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench for the Raptors, who got 12 points from both Jonas Valanciunas and DeMar DeRozan.

Toronto was down 26-16 after the first 12 minutes and has been outscored in the first quarter in each of the past six games. The Raptors were down by as many as 24 points in the first half and got no closer than 15 in the fourth stanza.

"We came out lethargic, had a hard time getting ourselves going," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "They dictated the tone of the game and we never got it back. We let frustration along with the Milwaukee Bucks spank us tonight."

DeRozan is averaging 18.1 points per game in his last 10 for a Toronto squad that is 11-28 on the road.

The Raptors were handed a 107-105 overtime setback to the Bulls on Jan. 16 this season and have lost five straight and eight of nine games in this series. The Raptors have lost 13 of the past 18 trips to the United Center.