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Bulls welcome Sixers to Chicago

Jan 18, 2014 - 3:24 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls have lost two of three since a five- game winning streak and they'll try to correct things Saturday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.

Both of the Bulls losses over the last three came at the hands of the Washington Wizards. Chicago fell at home on Monday, then lost in D.C. on Friday night.

The Bulls fell in Washington, 96-93, but it was hard-fought until the very end.

Chicago, down three points, had one chance with 10.4 seconds left, but couldn't get a clean look and Jimmy Butler's 3-pointer at the buzzer was blocked by Nene.

"We were going to try Mike (Dunleavy). I guess who was guarding me, John went and trapped Mike and when he threw the ball to me I was caught off guard," said Butler. "I think everyone was."

Kirk Hinrich paced the Bulls with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. D.J. Augustin provided 16 points off the bench, while Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson donated 12 points apiece for Chicago. Joakim Noah grabbed 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

The Sixers were no match for the two-time defending champion Miami Heat on Friday night. After shocking the Heat on the Sixers opening night, Miami prevailed, 101-86, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Philly couldn't get off the ground offensively thanks to Miami's stifling defense. The Sixers shot under 37 percent from the field and only 10 percent from long range.

"They stopped us from our penetration and getting good looks," said rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams, who shocked the Heat in October with 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds.

On Friday, Carter-Williams finished with seven points, two assists, one rebound, one steal and five turnovers.

Tony Wroten paced the Sixers with 13 points, followed by 11 from Evan Turner and 10 apiece out of Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Hollis Thompson. Hawes also pulled down 10 boards.

The Sixers begin a three-game road trip with stops in Washington and New York after Saturday.

The Sixers beat the Bulls by three in Philadelphia on Nov. 2 and that snapped a five-game losing streak. The 76ers are 4-8 over their last 12 regular-season games in Chicago.