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Bulls snap eight-game home losing streak vs. Sonics

Dec 14, 2006 - 4:13 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle SuperSonics had no answer for the Ben's.

Ben Wallace had season highs of 15 points and 20 rebounds to go along with five blocks and Ben Gordon scored 27 points off the bench as the Chicago Bulls coasted to a 99-84 victory over the SuperSonics.

Andres Nocioni had 20 points and Kirk Hinrich added 14, eight assists and four steals for Chicago, which snapped an eight-game home losing streak against Seattle. The Bulls beat the Sonics at home for the first time since January 13, 1998 - Michael Jordan's last season with Chicago.

Wallace grabbed 11 boards and blocked four shots and Gordon netted 15 points in the first half, helping Chicago build a 49-33 cushion at the break.

"He (Wallace) was all over the place causing havoc," Hinrich said. "It seemed like he got every rebound and made every play for us that we needed."

"We had a lot of energy from the beginning of the game," Chicago coach Scott Skiles said. "Ben Wallace and Kirk Hinrich are our teams leaders out there, both guys were outstanding at the beginning of the game. Of course Ben was outstanding throughout the entire game."

The Bulls limited the Sonics to 31 percent (13-of-42) shooting from the field in the opening half.

"I think it was (the team's best game of the year)," Gordon said. "I know we had fun out there tonight. We did a great job of stopping them early."

Chicago maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half in improving to 6-1 on an eight-game homestand.

"That is what it is all about," Wallace said. "Sometimes you just have to go out there and forget about x's and o's and have a little fun. Sometimes the team that goes out and has the most fun wins the game."

Rashard Lewis scored 18 points and grabbed 13 boards and Damien Wilkins and Johan Petro both added 16 points apiece for the Sonics, who dropped their second straight game.

"Chicago is a tough team," Wilkins said. "They are the meaning of the word team. They played us tough and took us out of our offense."