Atlanta Hawks 102 Chicago Bulls 93

It looked as though the outcome of this game well in hand until the Bulls reserves made it close in the 4th quarter. It just wasn’t enough as the Bulls lost there second game in a row and fell to two games under .500 at 21-23. Atlanta picked up there 8th win in there last 10 games as they improved to 25-18 with there 102-93 win over Chicago.

The Bulls tried to stay close early in the quarter, but when you score only 13 points in the quarter you’re going to be in trouble. Jimmy Butler made a technical free throw with 2:41 left in the quarter for the Bulls 13th and final point of the 1st quarter. Atlanta was already ahead by 11 at that point and went on to add 11 more points to there lead. After just one quarter the Hawks where up 35-13.

Dwayne Wade hit a jumper with 10:02 left in the quarter to break the Bulls scoreless streak, but Atlanta scored 8 of the first 10 points in the 2nd quarter to push there lead to 28 points at 43-15. The biggest lead the Hawks had in the quarter was 30 points at 58-28, but had to settle for just a 29 point lead going into halftime ahead 65-36.

The 3rd quarter was actually a tightly played quarter between the two teams. Atlanta just outscored the Bulls by one point 22-21. Of course when you’re down 29 points at halftime a quarter like this is barely even a moral victory for the Bulls. The Bulls closed out the quarter scoring the last four points and found themselves down by 30 points 87-57 after three quarters.

The teams empty there benches in the 4th quarter as the game looked to be decided. Believe it or not the Bulls reserves went on a 33 to 8 run and the Atlanta lead was down to just five points at 95-90 with 1:08 left to play. The Hawks re-entered a couple of there starters back into the line up and the Bulls comeback came to an end. Atlanta finished the game on a 7 to 3 run to get the game to it’s 102-93 final.

Dennis Schroder was Atlanta’s and the games high scorer with 25 points. Schroder also handed out a game high 6 assists. Paul Milsap had 14 points, Dwight Howard scored 11 points and Thabo Sefolosha added 10 points for Atlanta. Kris Humphries tied Milsap for the game high in rebounds with 9.

Jimmy Butler was the Bulls leading scorer with 19 points. The only other Bulls starter to hit double figures was Robin Lopez with 10 points. Three Bulls came off the bench to score in double digits led by Jerian Grant with 12 points. Bobby Portis and Paul Zipser each scored 10 points while Portis also grabbed a team high 7 rebounds. Butler, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo all tied for the team lead in assists with 3 apiece.

This was the start of a three game home stand for the Hawks and they don’t get a day off. Tomorrow (Saturday) night the Hawks face the 15-26 Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls don’t get a day off either as they return home to host the 16-26 Sacramento Kings tomorrow night.