Game Thread: 76ers @ Bulls (4/8) The Chicago Bulls will try to keep the Philadelphia 76ers from creeping back into the playoff picture when the teams meet at the United Center tonight (7:30 p.m. CT | WGN/ESPN Radio 1000). Andres Nocioni registered his fifth consecutive double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago (35-40) a 99-92 win over the Sixers on Wednesday. Ben Gordon also scored 21 and Tyson Chandler grabbed 15 rebounds. The Bulls have won four straight games and can defeat the 76ers for the third time in four encounters this season. Philadelphia (34-41) looks to snap a three-game losing streak and avenge Wednesday's loss to Chicago when the teams meet Saturday for the final time this season. Despite 26 points from Allen Iverson and 23 from Chris Webber, the 76ers suffered the home loss to the Bulls earlier this week. It was the second defeat of a three-game losing streak that has Philadelphia now in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind Chicago. The league's second-leading scorer, Iverson made 14-of-25 shots and scored 37 points for the 76ers in Friday's 109-99 loss to the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia was outrebounded, 42-35, and allowed Boston to shoot 53 percent (39-of-74) from the floor. Tune in to watch tonight's game on the WGN Superstation or listen to it on ESPN Radio 1000 (pregame show at 7:00). Probable Bulls Starters Guard 21 Chris Duhon 6-1 | 185 Guard 12 Kirk Hinrich 6-3 | 190 Forward 9 Luol Deng 6-9 | 220 Forward 5 Andres Nocioni 6-7 | 225 Center 50 Michael Sweetney 6-8 | 270 Probable Sixers Starters Guard 3 Allen Iverson 6-0 | 165 Guard 12 Kevin Ollie 6-2 | 195 Forward 9 Andre Iguodala 6-6 | 207 Forward 4 Chris Webber 6-10 | 245 Center 1 Samuel Dalembert 6-11 | 240 Injury Report Bulls Darius Songaila (right foot fracture) is out. For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report at Bulls.com. Sixers Philadelphia has no significant injuries to report. Series Notes The Bulls won the series 2-1 last year, the first series win for Chicago since the 1997.98 season (2-1) ... Chicago delivered a 117-84 pounding in the first meeting this season on Feb. 16 ... the Bulls are 3-10 against the 76ers in the last 13 meetings at the United Center ... Chicago is 48-42 versus Philadelphia in the Windy City.
Luol Deng is out with a concussin he suffered this morning in shooting around, after banging heads with Pike. Webber is out with back problems, and Ollie is out due to a quad strain.
I hope the bulls win cause i no philly wont do anythin in the playoffs, even though they have a decent team. That being said i think chicago might win a game or two against detriot if they get the 8th seeed, and also chigaco have got a great future ahead of them, its time they get some playoff experience and get there young players experience.
The Bulls are getting destroyed right now, which is hard to believe considering the 76ers have played so poorly lately, and are without Webber. The Bulls just fouled AI on a three pointer, and gave him a four point play, wow! The 76ers are up 63-39. Losing Deng this morning looks like it really shacked the Bulls focus. The 76ers are on a 17-0 run early on in the third, and it doesn’t look like they are about to stop any time soon. The crowd is booing the team, and the Bulls are simply not responding. By the way even if the Bulls lose tonight they remain in the eighth spot due to holding the tie breaker over the 76ers.
I had training so I couldnt catch the game (that is why we lost, lol). Ouch, not having Deng and Piakowski hurts. Hopefully Deng will be back without missing any time. Tough schedule for the 76ers for the rest of the season, while the Bulls have 3 tough, 3 should win games.
That sucks, I was sure the Bulls had this until I heard Deng had an injury. I hope he recovers very soon, the Bulls struggled last year in the playoffs without him (and Curry). The 76ers played without Webber though and still managed a blowout... don't think Webber makes that big of an impact on the Sixers.
