Morning Box Score: Bulls Bench Too Much For Sacramento, Blackhawks Losing Streak Reaches Nine
By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 15, 2012 4:20PM
Derrick Rose sat out another game with back spasms, but the Bulls had this game under control until they allowed the Kings to hang on late. Luol Deng scored 23 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists as the Bulls moved the ball around early and often. The team finished with 33 assists on the night. the Bulls "bench mob" stepped up huge. Joakim Noah added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Kyle Korver scored 18, Taj Gibson added 15 points on seven-of-eight shooting from the field, and Omer Asik controlled the paint, redirecting several Sacramento shots while pulling down seven rebounds. the win secured a trip to the All-Star Game for head coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibs will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars thanks to the Bulls' 24-7 record. He has an 86-27 record in his first 18 months as coach.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, may not be becoming an afterthought in town again, but a losing streak that has now reached nine games will certainly serve as an impetus for the remaining bandwagon jumpers from the 2010 Stanley Cup championship team to bail in a hurry. The poor goaltending, lack of urgency on offense and defensive lapses that have contributed to the losing streak were evident again last night. Anyone who doubts that a good goaltender can make a difference need only look at Nashville's Pekka Rinne. Rinne stopped 22 of 24 shots on goal, while the Blackhawks' Ray Emery allowed 3 of the 18 shots he faced slip past. The way Chicago is playing currently, they could tie the franchise record losing streak of 12 games set in 1951.