• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bulls look for fifth straight win vs. Raptors

Mar 29, 2009 - 2:57 AM By Jeff Mezydlo STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (27-45) at Chicago (36-38) 3:30 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (AP) -- It's been a little over two years since the Chicago Bulls won five straight games. That happened to come during their last playoff season.

The surging Bulls hope to equal that winning streak and further solidify their playoff position Sunday when they visit the Toronto Raptors, who are looking for a season-high fourth straight win.

Chicago (36-38) beat Indiana 112-106 at home Saturday for its seventh victory in eight games. The Bulls are tied with Detroit for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls are trying for their first five-game winning streak since Dec. 11-19, 2006. Chicago made its most recent playoff appearance that season, losing to the Pistons in the second round.

The club's recent play on the road has helped their playoff push. The Bulls are 12-26 on the road, but hope to match a season high with their third consecutive win away from home. Chicago won three straight away from the United Center from Jan. 28-31.

The Bulls play consecutive games on the road before playing five of their last six at home.

While the Raptors (27-45) won 114-94 at Chicago on Jan. 23 in the teams' most recent contest, the Bulls avoided a third straight loss at Toronto with a 102-98 victory on Jan. 14.

Chicago didn't have John Salmons in either of those contests, and he could be the difference in this one.

Salmons scored 22 points and hit two late 3-pointers to help the Bulls beat Indiana. Salmons is averaging 20.3 points in 19 games since being acquired from Sacramento.

"The best trade of the year," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said of the Bulls landing the underrated swingman.

Ben Gordon added 25 points for the Bulls, who shot 50.6 percent, two nights after shooting 52.6 in a 106-87 win over Miami.

Chicago is shooting 49.3 percent and averaging 106.8 points in its last eight contests.

"It's a lot of fun being out there with other guys who are making big plays and are taking tough shots," said Gordon, who is averaging a team-leading 20.4 points.

Rookie Derrick Rose had 25 points and 10 assists in the January road win over the Raptors.

Chris Bosh had 25 points in that contest and 21 with 13 rebounds in the Raptors' 112-96 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday.

Though Toronto will miss the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, it's won three in a row heading into the finale of a five-game homestand that opened with a 102-89 loss to Charlotte on March 20.

Shawn Marion added 20 points and 11 rebounds Friday for the Raptors, who led by as many as 25.

"Everybody was on the same page," Marion said. "We got stops when we needed to, everybody was stepping up and it just started clicking."

Though its last three victories have come against the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee and the Thunder, Toronto is averaging 109.0 points while allowing 92.7 during that span.

Andrea Bargnani is averaging 26.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against the Bulls this season.

These teams conclude the regular season April 15 in Chicago.