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Bulls, Bucks battle in Brew City

Nov 5, 2014 - 3:06 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls could get some reinforcements when they invade Milwaukee Wednesday night to take on the Central rival Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

The Bulls didn't have star guard and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose for a second straight game in Tuesday's 98-90 victory over the winless Orlando Magic and center Joakim Noah was sidelined with an illness.

Jimmy Butler picked up the slack with 21 points, Pau Gasol contributed 16 and 13 rebounds and Taj Gibson scored 16 points as well. Aaron Brooks and Doug McDermott had 13 and 12 points, respectively, off the bench for the Bulls, who have won two in a row and shot 46.7 percent.

"We kept battling. I thought our bench guys were terrific," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "And our starters. We had a lot of guys step up."

Meanwhile, Rose sprained both ankles in last Friday's overtime loss to Cleveland and said he'll feel comfortable when he regains that burst of speed.

"If I can get to a spot, I can play. If I'm not 100 percent or if I can't play the way I normally play, there's no need for me to be out there right now," Rose told the Chicago Tribune.

Noah reportedly did not take the team bus to Milwaukee and could meet his teammates there if his illness subsides.

The Bulls will make a stop in Philadelphia on Friday and will face another touted rookie in Milwaukee's Jabari Parker. The Bulls recently disposed of Andrew Wiggins and Minnesota a few days ago.

Parker and the Bucks have alternated wins and losses through their first four games and recorded an 87-81 triumph Tuesday at Indiana. Brandon Knight led the visitors with 23 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 11 and both Parker and Jerryd Bayless ended with 10 points. Larry Sanders posted 10 rebounds and three blocks.

"This is a deep team and everyone knows they are going to have a chance to play," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said.

Milwaukee scored 28 points off 19 Indiana turnovers and made 44.6 percent of its shots. It also halted a road losing streak that lasted almost eight months.

The Bucks won their home opener versus Philadelphia last Friday and lost three of four contests against Chicago in 2013-14. The Bulls have won 13 of the past 16 meetings with the Bucks and are unbeaten in eight straight trips to the Bradley Center.