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Morning Box Score: Bulls Maul Bobcats with Legends in House

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 16, 2011 3:30PM

With the ghosts of Bulls past observing the game at courtside in Scottie Pippen and Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, the Bulls used tough defense, good bench production and the slashing game of Luol Deng to beat Charlotte 106-94. But the Bobcats showed last night that they're a team on the rise and that their two previous wins over the Bulls weren't flukes.

Charlotte used a trapping defense to come back twice from double-digit deficits and put pressure on Derrick Rose, forcing the All-Star point guard into 6 turnovers and contesting his driving lanes when they could. Rose adjusted and dished out 13 assists, the last one a beautiful no-look pass, with the Hornets' defense collapsing on him, to Carlos Boozer for a dunk in the fourth quarter. Deng (a game-high 24 points) made Charlotte pay, attacking the basket on drives and keeping the inside defense honest with outside shooting. Kyle Korver provided most of the bench support, shooting a perfect 5 for 5 from the field (three of them treys) for 15 points, while Taj Gibson added 11.

The Bulls close out the first part of the season tomorrow night with a visit to the United Center by the San Antonio Spurs. With a league-leading 46-9 record, the Spurs will pose the toughest matchup to the Bulls yet.