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Bulls continue playoff chase against Sixers

Mar 14, 2008 - 1:41 PM Philadelphia (31-34) at Chicago (26-38) 8:30 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago Bulls face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday hoping to start a push toward an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

The Bulls, 4-6 in their last 10 games, are a half-game behind New Jersey along with Atlanta in the race for the final postseason spot in the East. The Sixers are in seventh place, four games in front of the Nets.

Chicago has been going through its share of turmoil lately. Chris Duhon was held out of Tuesday's 108-96 win over Utah in what interim coach Jim Boylan said was a "coach's decision."

Duhon missed a practice prior to Sunday's game at Detroit on Sunday and made some comments regarding management after being held out of that contest.

In addition, Tyrus Thomas was suspended for two games after skipping a practice and rookie Aaron Gray reportedly mouthed off to Boylan in a game against Memphis last week.

"When people question our team, I respond that we have guys in the locker room with a lot of character who care about their craft and work at it," Boylan said. "The guys were hurt the last couple days. There were a lot of things swirling around our team, and no one likes to see that stuff in the paper. This is a basketball team, not a soap opera."

The Sixers are coming off an 83-82 win at Detroit on Wednesday. Starting guard Willie Green missed the game with a lower back strain and is questionable for Friday's contest. Point guard Andre Miller left the game after straining his back in the fourth quarter.

The teams have split the first two games of the four-game season series, each winning on the road.