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Hawks-Bulls Preview
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Spoiler:
The Chicago Bulls have wrapped up home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, though they still have some things they'd like to accomplish on the final day of the season.
Derrick Rose looks to keep nearing full strength as the host Bulls continue their push for the third seed Wednesday night against the East-best Atlanta Hawks, who hope to avoid their second three-game skid all season.
After going 10-10 with Rose sidelined due to a torn meniscus, Chicago improved to 32-18 with him in the lineup by winning the last three of a four-game stretch since he returned.
The former MVP finished with 13 points and seven assists before sitting out the fourth quarter in Monday's 113-86 win at Brooklyn that clinched at least the fourth-best record in the conference.
Rose has averaged 14.0 points while playing limited minutes in his return, and he's still struggling with his shot. He's hit 32.2 percent of his attempts over his last seven games, including 6 for 31 from 3-point range.
Despite his shooting woes, the Bulls (49-32) are feeling confident as their playmaker continues to make positive strides.
"With Derrick back (there are) much more options and we can see we are getting ready for the playoffs and are playing really good basketball right now," forward Nikola Mirotic told the team's official website after scoring 26 on Monday.
Joakim Noah could be sidelined due to left knee tendinitis as Chicago seeks its first four-game run since Feb. 7-12.
The Bulls will need to finish one game ahead of Toronto in the race for the third seed because the Raptors own the tiebreaker as Atlantic Division champions. Toronto hosts Charlotte on Wednesday.
Finishing third could benefit Chicago since it went 3-1 against sixth-place Milwaukee and 2-2 versus fifth-place Washington, which knocked the Bulls from the playoffs last season.
Having long ago clinched the top seed in the East, Atlanta (60-21) rested its starters in Sunday's 108-99 loss at Washington before sitting Paul Millsap in Monday's 112-108 home loss to conference-worst New York.
Millsap, one of the team's four All-Stars, is expected to miss his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury. Reserves Dennis Schroder (rest) and Pero Antic (illness) could be back after they didn't play against the Knicks.
Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver had 19 points apiece and Al Horford scored 18, but the Hawks allowed the offensively challenged Knicks to shoot a season-high 55.8 percent - including 13 for 25 from beyond the arc.
"It's nothing to panic over," said Teague, who missed a potential tying shot with nine seconds left. "Just one of those games."
Although coach Mike Budenholzer - who was visibly upset Monday - could opt to rest some regulars, Atlanta doesn't want to head into the playoffs riding its worst skid since dropping three in a row March 18-22.
If he suits up, Horford could play a big role after having 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 93-86 home win in the first meeting Dec. 15. The All-Star center added 22 points, nine boards and four assists in the last matchup, a 107-99 victory at Chicago on Jan. 17.
Atlanta hasn't swept the season series since going 3-0 in 2008-09.
Rose has averaged 27.6 points over his last nine home games against Atlanta, including the 2011 playoffs. He had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in January as the Hawks ended a seven-game skid in Chicago, including those playoffs.
Copyright 2015 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
Derrick Rose looks to keep nearing full strength as the host Bulls continue their push for the third seed Wednesday night against the East-best Atlanta Hawks, who hope to avoid their second three-game skid all season.
After going 10-10 with Rose sidelined due to a torn meniscus, Chicago improved to 32-18 with him in the lineup by winning the last three of a four-game stretch since he returned.
The former MVP finished with 13 points and seven assists before sitting out the fourth quarter in Monday's 113-86 win at Brooklyn that clinched at least the fourth-best record in the conference.
Rose has averaged 14.0 points while playing limited minutes in his return, and he's still struggling with his shot. He's hit 32.2 percent of his attempts over his last seven games, including 6 for 31 from 3-point range.
Despite his shooting woes, the Bulls (49-32) are feeling confident as their playmaker continues to make positive strides.
"With Derrick back (there are) much more options and we can see we are getting ready for the playoffs and are playing really good basketball right now," forward Nikola Mirotic told the team's official website after scoring 26 on Monday.
Joakim Noah could be sidelined due to left knee tendinitis as Chicago seeks its first four-game run since Feb. 7-12.
The Bulls will need to finish one game ahead of Toronto in the race for the third seed because the Raptors own the tiebreaker as Atlantic Division champions. Toronto hosts Charlotte on Wednesday.
Finishing third could benefit Chicago since it went 3-1 against sixth-place Milwaukee and 2-2 versus fifth-place Washington, which knocked the Bulls from the playoffs last season.
Having long ago clinched the top seed in the East, Atlanta (60-21) rested its starters in Sunday's 108-99 loss at Washington before sitting Paul Millsap in Monday's 112-108 home loss to conference-worst New York.
Millsap, one of the team's four All-Stars, is expected to miss his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury. Reserves Dennis Schroder (rest) and Pero Antic (illness) could be back after they didn't play against the Knicks.
Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver had 19 points apiece and Al Horford scored 18, but the Hawks allowed the offensively challenged Knicks to shoot a season-high 55.8 percent - including 13 for 25 from beyond the arc.
"It's nothing to panic over," said Teague, who missed a potential tying shot with nine seconds left. "Just one of those games."
Although coach Mike Budenholzer - who was visibly upset Monday - could opt to rest some regulars, Atlanta doesn't want to head into the playoffs riding its worst skid since dropping three in a row March 18-22.
If he suits up, Horford could play a big role after having 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 93-86 home win in the first meeting Dec. 15. The All-Star center added 22 points, nine boards and four assists in the last matchup, a 107-99 victory at Chicago on Jan. 17.
Atlanta hasn't swept the season series since going 3-0 in 2008-09.
Rose has averaged 27.6 points over his last nine home games against Atlanta, including the 2011 playoffs. He had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in January as the Hawks ended a seven-game skid in Chicago, including those playoffs.
Copyright 2015 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
Previous matchups:
12/15 - CHI 86 @ ATL 93
1/17 - CHI 99 @ ATL 107
Atlanta is the only team in the league we haven't notched a win against this season.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS0Juf5gLP0[/youtube]
EASY WIN
sorry for getting this up late, I actually forgot about it. also finally corrected the typo in the title!
