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Warriors look to bounce back vs. Bulls

Jan 18, 2008 - 2:50 PM Golden State (23-17) at Chicago (15-22) 9:30 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Golden State Warriors need to find a way to close out games if they hope to go deep into the playoffs this season.

The Warriors will look to polish their fourth quarter defense when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Golden State blew a 14-point fourth quarter advantage on Wednesday at Indiana, falling 125-117. The Warriors were outscored 46-24 in the decisive final period and and watched their lead evaporate in less than six minutes.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and once again exposed the defensive problems of Golden State. The club ranks last in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 106.7 points per contest.

The Warriors are now 1-1 on their current four-game road trip, and own a 12-10 record away from home.

The Bulls trounced the Miami Heat on Wednesday, 126-96, with five players scoring at least 17 points. The 126-point outburst was Chicago's highest-scoring game of the season - marking just the 14th time that the club has eclipsed the century mark.

The win snapped a two-game slide for the Bulls, who have been unable to put together more than to wins in a row this season.