The Chicago Bulls improved to 22-4 at the United Center with Friday’s 99-90 victory over Orlando. The Magic’s Dwight Howard had a monster performance, scoring 40 points in the loss, but it wasn’t enough to snap the surging Bulls’ three game winning streak. Chicago is tied with Miami for second in the conference. Three Chicago players scored in double figures. The Bulls limited Orlando’s three point shooting and outrebounded the visitors 54-40. Luol Deng led Chicago with 26 points and MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, finished with a double-double.
Jameer Nelson, the Magic’s point guard who burned the Bulls in the last meeting between the teams, played just eight minutes. Nelson exited with an injury in the first quarter as Chicago pulled ahead 24-23 at the end of one. Howard was strong from the field and nearly impeccable from the line but received little help from his teammates. The Magic managed to hold a 51-46 advantage at the half courtesy of Howard’s rebounding and dominant offense. The rusty Bulls made just five of their first twenty field goal attempts but rallied after the half to trim the Orlando lead.
Deng scored 14 third quarter points to pace Chicago’s comeback. Rose scored 26 points and added 12 rebounds as the Bulls hit their stride heading into the fourth quarter. The Bulls held Orlando to just 4-of-14 shooting in the third. Chicago hit the 34 point mark in the third quarter, doubling up Orlando, who scored just 17. The Bulls made 13-of-21 shots in the table-turning third. Carlos Boozer contributed a massive 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who maintained their lead throughout the final quarter. Gilbert Arenas pocketed 11 buckets off the Magic bench, but Rose put the game away on a pair of free throws in the final minute to hold off a late push by Orlando. The Central-division leading Bulls knocked down 8-of-18 from the arc in the win. Howard finished just five points shy of a career high in scoring.
Parting Points: Congrats to Kim Clijsters in her three set comeback triumph over Li Na.
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