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Bulls make a stop in south Philly

Nov 7, 2014 - 3:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls have been playing some great basketball and will try to continue their form Friday night when they meet the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

The Bulls have won three straight since the home overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers one week ago. They've missed All-Stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah for stretches, but have emerged atop the Central Division.

Chicago's third consecutive victory came Wednesday with a 95-86 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson were dominant against a thin Milwaukee Bucks frontline on Wednesday, combining for 45 points and 24 rebounds. Gasol and Gibson more than made up for the absence of Noah, who missed his second straight game with an illness. Gasol had 22 points and 14 rebounds while Gibson tallied a game-high 23 points with 10 boards.

Derrick Rose returned after missing two games with two sprained ankles and donated 13 points with seven assists, while Jimmy Butler contributed 14 points, seven helpers and four steals in Chicago's victory.

"This is the one we needed," said Rose. "Coming in here, playing against this team that can put up points on you very quick with the talent they have. They play very freely ... It really was a challenge for us."

The Bulls, who opened 3-0 on the road for the first time since the 1996-97 season, may be without Noah again on Friday. He is listed as doubtful.

The Sixers have been dreadful early in the 2014-15 campaign, but that was to be expected.

They rank 28th in the NBA in scoring at 90.0 ppg and allow 101.0 ppg. The minus-11 differential is the second-worst in the NBA behind the also 0-5 Los Angeles Lakers.

The Sixers found a new, depressing way to lose on Wednesday night. After a spirited affair with the fellow 0-4 Orlando Magic, Tobias Harris made an off- balance jumper from just inside the 3-point line before the buzzer. That gave Orlando the 91-89 victory and sent Philly to 0-5 for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

"He made a heck of a shot. We were there," said coach Brett Brown. "For our young guys, it highlights there is no margin for error. To be able to take this experience and be able to teach out of it, you have to go back to defensive mistakes."

Tony Wroten continued his hot start with 27 points to lead the Sixers, who finally played a close game after losing their first four by an average of 13.25 points. Brandon Davies added 20 points and K.J. McDaniels had 12 off the bench.

Nerlens Noel, who missed all of last season with a knee injury he suffered as a freshman at Kentucky, rolled his ankle under the basket and limped off under his own power. The team announced soon after that the ankle was sprained.

"I thought he was going to practice today," Brown said after practice on Thursday. "He had to pull out of some early drills, and we don't expect him to play tomorrow."

The Bulls took three of four from the Sixers last season and are 8-1 in the last nine in this series. Chicago has won three of its last four in the City of Brotherly Love.