Balanced Scoring Helps Bulls Beat 76ers 94-88

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap

The Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers, two teams with upside. Yet during Saturday night’s game between these two teams, one would have mistaken them for the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks as neither team shot very well (Chicago at 44.9% while Philadelphia shot 42%). Fortunately for the Bulls, they used a team effort (the other 31 teams ought to try it sometime) which benefited them as six players scored in double-digits, leading Chicago to the 94-88 win over Philadelphia at United Center.

The first quarter was rather slow, although the 76ers went on a 11-2 run, capped by an Andre Iguodala basket with 9:03 left in the period; the Bulls slowly reduced their deficit, eventually tying the game at 20-all on a Luol Deng dunk. An Iguodala three-pointer at the horn gave Philadelphia a 23-22 lead going into the second quarter. The second period was one of attrition as neither team shot very well, with turnovers sprinkled in; it was back and forth until Derrick Rose made a layup with two seconds left in the half, narrowing their deficit to one at 41-40 as both teams went to their locker rooms.

The third quarter went slow much like the previous two as both teams shared leads while turnovers dictated affairs. Chicago would eventually take the lead at 63-58 on a pair of free throws by Joakim Noah with 44 seconds left; they would take a four-point edge into the final 12 minutes. Business definitely picked in the final period as Brad Miller’s layup increased the Bulls’ lead to double-digits at 71-61; even with a Philadelphia timeout, Chicago managed to pad their lead to 17, capped by a John Salmons free throw with 5:39 remaining in the game. Noah would ice the game for the Bulls with a pair of free throws with 1:29 left and would hang on for the victory.

Six Bulls scored in double digits, led by Deng and Kirk Hinrich with 19 points each, with Deng grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists woith 2 steals and a block while Hinrich grabbed 4 boards and dished out 7 assists; Noah, Salmons, Rose and Brad Miller each scored 14.

The 76ers were led by Iguodala with 24 points (including three 3-pointers), 5 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal while Lou Williams added 20 with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and a block; Thaddeus Young chipped in 16 with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Chicago (5-4) plays again on Tuesday as they go on a Western road trip, taking on the Sacramento Kings while Philadelphia (4-6) returns home to host the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

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