Playoff Box Score: Bulls Clinch Top Seed, Blackhawks Inch Closer

By Angie Wiatrowski in News on Apr 9, 2011 2:00PM

Bulls 93, Cavaliers 82

The tables have turned for the Chicago Bulls. Last season they barely made the playoffs and were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Now Chicago has won six straight and 18 of their last 20 games after clinching the top seed in the East with a 93-82 victory over the Cavaliers Friday night.

Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 11 rebounds and the Bulls had five other players score in double digits; Derrick Rose had 11 points and 8 assists, Joakim Noah scored 11 points, and Luol Deng and Kyle Korver scored 10 apiece.

The Bulls hadn't finished with the best record in the East since 1997-98, the last of their six NBA Championships with Michael Jordan. The Cavs, however, fell into a tie with Minnesota for the league's worst record.

The Bulls will play their next two games on the road beginning Sunday in Orlando and Tuesday in New York.

Blackhawks 4, Red Wins 2

It's been a roller coaster ride of a season, and as the regular season winds down, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are thisclose to a playoff berth after a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings Friday night.

Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa each had a goal and an assist for Chicago in the victory. Seabrook opened the scoring with his eighth goal just 27 seconds into the game. Ben Smith and Brian Campbell also scored while Patrick Kane 2 assists and goaltender Corey Crawford made 26 saves.

The Red Wings have lost four straight to the Blackhawks and the rivals will wrap up the regular season with a rematch on Sunday.