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Gordon, Bulls aim to continue successful homestand

Dec 13, 2006 - 3:58 PM Seattle (10-11) at Chicago (11-10) 8:30 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- After a slow start to the season and a disappointing road trip, Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls are headed in the right direction.

The Bulls aim for their ninth win in 10 games Wednesday when they host the Seattle SuperSonics.

A preseason favorite to contend for the Eastern Conference title, Chicago opened the season with a 3-9 record and lost six straight during a seven-game road trip from November 14-25.

But the Bulls have turned things around over the last three weeks and are 5-1 on their eight-game homestand. Much of that success can be attributed to Gordon, who has averaged 20.8 points over his last eight games.

Gordon scored 23 points Monday as Chicago cruised to a 106-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Luol Deng scored 22 points while Ben Wallace added 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who erupted for a 42-point first quarter to improve to 8-2 at home this season.

Chicago looks to continue rolling Wednesday against a Seattle team which had its three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in a 94-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rashard Lewis scored 26 points to pace Seattle, which fell to 3-1 without injured superstar Ray Allen. The Sonics' leading scorer, Allen is nursing a foot injury and did not accompany the team on its five-game road trip, which started Tuesday.

The Sonics have been immensely successful at the United Center, winning their last eight games here. The last time Chicago won a home game against Seattle was January 13, 1998.