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Game Notes: Bulls at Phoenix Suns
Bulls trail in the all-time series by a 59-56 margin
Click here now or visit Bulls.com to buy tickets!
Hello ***,
After losing just twice over a 35-game stretch, the Phoenix Suns
have been defeated three times in their last six contests. The Bulls
will try to
hand them another loss while
winning in Phoenix for the first time in more than 10 years when they
visit the Suns on Sunday (7:00 p.m. CT | ESPN & CSN | WCKG 105.9 FM).
The Suns (39-11) have won five straight overall against the Bulls
(28-23) and haven't lost to them in Phoenix since Nov. 20, 1996, when
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen each scored 37 points to lead
Chicago to a 113-99 victory.
The Suns' eight-game home winning streak in the series has come
by an average of 12.3 points, with the last three of those contests
having been decided by an average of 16.0 points.
Phoenix could get a boost if point guard Steve Nash returns as it
looks to extend that streak. The two-time MVP has sat out the last 2
1/2 games with a sore shoulder.
While the Suns defeated Denver on Monday as Nash sat out the
second half and knocked off Portland on Tuesday without him, Phoenix
suffered a 120-111 home loss to lowly Atlanta on Friday night. The
Suns came in with a 20-4 mark at the U.S. Airways Center.
Nash said he was feeling better Friday, and his coach sounded
confident the five-time All-Star could be back in the lineup against
the Bulls.
"It's still sore," Mike D'Antoni said. "If it improves as much
from now until Sunday as it did from yesterday to today, then he will
play Sunday."
Nash has 11 points and 13 assists against the Bulls in the teams'
last match-up, a 97-96 Suns road victory Jan. 2 that Leandro Barbosa
won with a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining. Nash's teams are
unbeaten in the last 14 games he's played against Chicago.
The Suns, who haven't lost back-to-back games since dropping four
straight from Nov. 3-9, will be facing a Chicago club that has
struggled all season on the road.
The Bulls are 8-17 away from home, and 2-4 on their season
high-tying seven-game trip. Chicago has lost three straight,
including a disheartening 123-121 overtime defeat to Golden State on
Friday.
The Bulls led by 14 going into the fourth quarter, but the
Warriors went on a 22-6 run to start the period. Golden State's P.J.
Brown tied it with 50 seconds left and the contest went to overtime.
Ben Gordon had a chance to win it for Chicago in the extra
period, but his 3-pointer as time expired never hit the rim. Gordon
finished with a team-high 24 points.
"We built a nice lead," coach Scott Skiles said. "We just lost
focus."
A defeat Sunday would give the Bulls their longest losing streak
since a season-high six-game slide between Nov. 14-24. All of those
defeats came on the road.
Tune in to watch tonight's game on ESPN or Comcast SportsNet
Chicago and listen live on WCKG 105.9 FM. Visit Bulls.com or
click here now for a complete
preview of this evening's contest.
Probable Bulls Starters
Guard 12 Kirk Hinrich 6-3 | 190
Guard 7 Ben Gordon 6-3 | 200
Forward 9 Luol Deng 6-9 | 220
Forward 42 P.J. Brown 6-11 | 239
Center 3 Ben Wallace 6-9 | 240
Click here now for
Chicago's team roster and statistics.
Probable Suns Starters
Guard 13 Steve Nash 6-3 | 178
Guard 19 Raja Bell 6-5 | 210
Forward 3 Boris Diaw 6-8 | 230
Forward 31 Shawn Marion 6-7 | 228
Center 1 Amaré Stoudemire 6-10 | 245
Click here now for
Phoenix's team roster and statistics.
Injury Report
Bulls
Andrés Nocioni (right foot plantar fasciitis) is out. For a full
report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the
AthletiCo Injury Report
at Bulls.com.
Suns
Steve Nash (right shoulder inflammation) is day-to-day, while
Kurt Thomas (left elbow subluxation) is out.
Note-a-Bull
Offensively, the Bulls are currently seventh in the NBA in
3FG% (.365), 15th in points per game (98.34), 10th in assists per
game (21.76) and 17th in FG% (.456). Chicago is also fifth in the NBA
(tops in the East) in point differential at +4.10 points.
Defensively, Chicago is second in turnovers forced per game
(17.44), second in opponents FG% (.435) and eighth in points per game
(94.24).
The Bulls have held double-digit leads in 17 of their last 22
games.
The Bulls have held 16 of their last 20 opponents to less
than 100 points.
Luol Deng has reached double figures in scoring in 47 of
Chicago's 50 games this season, including 19 games of 20+ points.
Ben Gordon has scored 20 or more points in 24 of his last 32
games (19 games off the bench), including two 40+ point outings.
Complete Game Notes
For more game notes, statistics and player bios,
visit Bulls.com now.
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One week from All-Star festivities in Las Vegas
Feb. 11
Bulls at Suns
7:00 p.m.
ESPN, CSN
WCKG 105.9 FM
Feb. 13
Bulls vs. Raptors
7:30 p.m.
United Center
CSN
WCKG 105.9 FM
Buy Tickets
Feb. 14
Bulls at Bobcats
6:00 p.m.
CSN+
WCKG 105.9 FM
Feb. 17
NBA All-Star Weekend
in Las Vegas
NBA All-Star Saturday Night: Haier Shooting Stars (Gordon, Pippen
and Dupree), Sprite Slam Dunk (Thomas), Foot Locker Three-Point
Shootout and Playstation Skills Challenge
7:00 p.m.
Thomas & Mack Center
TNT
ESPN Radio
Feb. 18
56th NBA All-Star Game
7:00 p.m.
Thomas & Mack Center
TNT
ESPN Radio
Bulls at Celtics on March 11 start time changed
Please note that Chicago's game at Boston on March 11, originally
scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. CT, will now start at 5:00 p.m. CT.
In addition, the game will now be broadcast locally on WGN-TV.
Chicago's MVPs:
Black History in
the Making
The Bulls are partnering with Chicago Public Schools to host a
new initiative for
Black History Month 2007.
The program, entitled Chicago's MVPs, will celebrate the
accomplishments of young Black males in Chicago's public high schools.
Interested participants will have an opportunity to apply for
selection as Chicago's MVPs based on academic achievement, community
service, and an essay.
Following the selection process, the
top 150 applicants will be honored
at the team's Black History Month event on February 27, 2007.
Applications must be received no later than February 12, 2007.
Applications are
available now
at Bulls.com. For more information, call 312.455.4131.
More at Bulls.com:
Bulls Radio Exclusive Audio Clips
Bulls.com Confidential: Daily Audio Reports
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