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Bulls-Hornets Preview
Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Hornets
- When the Hornets won in Chicago on November 3, 89-82, it broke an eight-game losing skein in their series with the Bulls.
- The Bulls went down to defeat 71-69 in Boston last Wednesday despite the Celtics scoring 19 points in the second and third quarters combined, tying for the third-lowest total in NBA history and setting a Celtics' franchise record for the fewest points in consecutive quarters since the shot clock era began.
- The Bulls committed a season-high 22 turnovers in their loss to Boston. The last time Chicago won a game with at least 22 turnovers was back on New Year's Eve 2009 at Detroit, a 98-87 triumph over the Pistons.
- Joakim Noah is one of five players averaging 11 points and 11 rebounds per game entering the All-Star break (min 30 games). It's the third time in his career that Noah had averaged 11 and 11 at the break.
- The Hornets won their final game entering the break, a 99-63 win over the Trail Blazers. It was their most lopsided win since a 100-59 win in Atlanta over the Hawks back on January 21, 2011.
- Ryan Anderson has 159 made three-pointers, the most by any player at the break since Ray Allen's 172 for Seattle in 2005-06.
By JORDAN GARRETSON
(AP) -- The Chicago Bulls hope the season's final two months will include the return of Derrick Rose. They've remained in the playoff hunt without him, but Chicago's backcourt - also dealing with other injuries - may be starting to buckle.
Playing much better basketball after a dismal start, the New Orleans Hornets would have preferred to skip the All-Star break altogether. Instead, they'll try to win for the fifth time in six games when they host the Bulls on Tuesday night.
A return date has still not been set for Rose, who has been rehabbing his knee after tearing his ACL in the first game of last year's playoffs. Rose was initially expected to come back some time after the break but told USA Today missing the entire season was a possibility.
"I'm feeling good, but like I said, if it's to where it's taking me a long time and I'm still not feeling right, I don't mind missing this year," said Rose, who participated in five-on-five drills Monday.
Without Rose, Chicago has still clawed its way to a 30-22 record primarily on the strength of its defense, which is holding opponents to 43.3 percent shooting to rank third in the NBA. But the Bulls are 1-4 over their last five games, a stretch in which they've allowed opponents to average 100.4 points on 49.6 percent shooting.
They've finished both seasons under coach Tom Thibodeau among the top three in opponents' field-goal percentage.
"We have to grind," Thibodeau said. "We have to do it collectively. We have to play with great intensity. We can't take shortcuts."
Sloppy ballhandling also reared its head in losses to San Antonio and Boston before the break, with Chicago totaling 41 turnovers. Kirk Hinrich, who leads Chicago with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, has missed seven straight games after having an infection in his right elbow cleaned out. He is listed as day-to-day.
Chicago had won eight in a row in this series before New Orleans claimed an 89-82 road victory Nov. 3, holding the Bulls to 33.0 percent shooting despite playing without Anthony Davis.
The Hornets started 5-22 but have since gone 14-12. After a 99-63 home win over Portland on Wednesday - their largest margin of victory since beating Atlanta by 41 points Jan. 21, 2011 - they have an opportunity for only their second three-game winning streak.
Point guard Greivis Vasquez is averaging 15.2 points and 10.2 assists while shooting 54.7 percent over the last five games as New Orleans has gone 4-1.
"We are playing Hornets basketball right now, and we are making progress and we are continuing to play hard," Vasquez said. "I know I'm understanding the game much better. I now see things that I didn't see before."
Davis, who missed November's matchup with a concussion, had shot 1 for 13 in two games before finishing 10 of 17 for 21 points with 11 rebounds against the Trail Blazers.
Vasquez led the Hornets (19-34) with 18 points in the first meeting while Luol Deng paced the Bulls with 19. Joakim Noah is averaging 12.5 points and 14.3 rebounds in his last six games against New Orleans.
Updated February 18, 2013
© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
