Before they dig into the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls face an appetizer Wednesday, when they square off against the Toronto Raptors - a team they have feasted on in recent years (7:30 p.m. CT | WGN/ESPN Radio 1000). Winners of five straight games, Chicago (40-41) sits in a tie with Indiana for sixth place in the Eastern Conference - one game behind Washington and one-half game in front of Milwaukee. A victory clinches the Bulls at least the seventh seed, while a loss guarantees them the eighth spot and a match-up with the league-leading Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulls are coming off Monday's 116-112 overtime triumph against Orlando as Kirk Hinrich had 26 points and 12 assists and Luol Deng added 22 and 11 rebounds. Andres Nocioni contributed 24 points and Ben Gordon 18 for Chicago, which made 13-of-14 foul shots in the final 1:48. Owners of the fourth-worst record in the Eastern Conference, Toronto (27-54) has dropped 11 of its last 12 games following Monday's 120-95 pounding at the hands of Indiana. Mike James scored 27 points to pace the Raptors, who have allowed at least 94 points in 17 of their last 18 games. Toronto also has lost 12 straight match-ups against Chicago, including all three meetings this season by an average of 12 points. The Bulls have not lost to the Raptors since a 103-89 setback on Dec. 6, 2002. Tune in to watch tonight's game on WGN and listen to it on ESPN Radio 1000 (pregame show at 7:00 p.m.). Probable Bulls Starters Guard 12 Kirk Hinrich 6-3 | 190 Guard 7 Ben Gordon 6-3 | 200 Forward 5 Andres Nocioni 6-7 | 225 Forward 35 Malik Allen 6-10 | 255 Center 50 Michael Sweetney 6-8 | 270 Probable Raptors Starters Guard 13 Mike James 6-2 | 190 Guard 24 Morris Peterson 6-7 | 225 Forward 31Charlie Villanueva 6-11 | 240 Forward 55 Rafael Araujo 6-11 | 290 Center 9 Pape Sow 6-8 | 220 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. Raptors Matt Bonner (sprained left ankle), Chris Bosh (sprained left thumb), Alvin Williams (rehabilitation, right knee surgery) and Eric Williams (strained left oblique muscle) are out. Series Notes After falling to the Raptors in 16 consecutive tries, the Bulls have strung together 12-straight victories, with six coming at the United Center ... Chicago has also won six-straight at the Air Canada Centre after it dropped nine in-a-row in Canada ... the Bulls have swept the series each of the last two seasons ... the Bulls have not last to the Raptors since Dec. 6, 2002 (103-89) at Toronto.
Much needed win to atleast finished 7th seed in the playoffs. At the moment, Indiana are winning by 4 points and Washington are losing by 3 points.
hopefully we can get a massive lead and just get out without any injuries and some playing time for the backups.
Nice win by Chicago looks like they will be playing the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Solid game by everyone tonight. Although, not officially over, eleven minutes left Bulls up 108-83 Ben Gordon has 24 points while Deng has 17. I’m really happy this team managed to find a way to finish .500 and avoid a losing season. First round upset!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">First round upset!</div> Yeah baby!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">When is the first game by the way? gotta check it the Bulls will be on down here.</div> I will post my first round preview a couple days before the playoffs to let you know. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Chicago Bulls could prepare themselves for Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. Ben Gordon scored 24 points as the Bulls clinched the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 127-106 rout of the Toronto Raptors in the regular-season finale for both teams. Luol Deng added 21 points, Kirk Hinrich 17 and 10 assists and Andres Nocioni 14 and 11 rebounds for Chicago (41-41), which closed the regular season by winning six straight and 10 of its last 11 games. Chicago's hot finish set up a first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. The Heat won two of three meetings during the regular season, although the Bulls clinched a playoff spot with a 117-93 victory at Miami on Sunday. Holding a 68-58 lead at the half, the Bulls took control of the game in the third quarter by making 14-of-22 shots. Gordon scored 14 points in the period that ended with the Bulls holding a commanding 103-78 advantage. Chicago shot 54 percent (44-of-90) and held a commanding 57-40 rebounding advantage. Morris Peterson and rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 29 points apiece for the Raptors (27-55), which lost 12 of its final 13 games. </div> <div align="center">Recap l Box Score</div>
