NBA News Wire
Bulls 102, Hornets 95
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic all had double-doubles as the Chicago Bulls handed the Charlotte Hornets their 10th straight loss with a 102-95 victory on Wednesday night.
Gasol finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, Noah had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Mirotic totaled 11 points and 12 rebounds as Chicago’s big men dominated play.
The Bulls (12-7) led by 13 points in the second half and pulled away for good with a 15-4 run midway through the fourth quarter. They then turned to guard Kirk Hinrich for two big 3-pointers in the final three minutes and the Hornets never got closer than five late.
Guards Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose added 15 points each for the Bulls, and Hinrich finished with 12.
The Bulls were 12 of 28 from 3-point range and held a 49-42 rebound edge.
The Hornets (4-15) wilted down the stretch as they have done often during this losing streak. Point guard Kemba Walker led the way with 23 points and guard Lance Stephenson scored 20. But leading scorer Al Jefferson was held to 13 points and seven rebounds, and the Hornets’ bench provided only 17 points combined.
The Bulls led 26-24 after one quarter, 45-40 at halftime and 72-71 after three quarters.
The Bulls’ 15-4 spurt came after the Hornets forged ahead 78-77 with 9:19 left and included an 8-0 run with Mirotic scoring a three-point play and guard Aaron Brooks hitting a 3-pointer.
NOTES: Hornets F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (stress reaction, right foot) missed his 11th straight game and G Gary Neal (left shoulder sprain) missed his fourth straight. F Marvin Williams (shoulder) returned after missing the previous two games. … The Bulls were without F Taj Gibson (left ankle) and F Doug McDermott (right knee). … Hornets G Jeffery Taylor continues to serve a 24-game suspension. … Bulls G Jimmy Butler came into the game leading the NBA in minutes played, averaging 39.8. He was also 10th in scoring at 22 ppg. … The Hornets were coming off a 105-75 loss at Atlanta on Saturday. They trailed by as many as 44. … The Bulls were coming off a 132-129 double-overtime loss to Dallas on Tuesday. … The Bulls were playing the eighth road game in their last nine contests, after going 4-3 on a recent seven-game trip. … Hornets coach Steve Clifford and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau were assistants together in Houston from 2003 to 2007. … The Hornets were opening a three-game home stand. They’ll host New York on Friday. … The Bulls will return home to face Golden State on Saturday.
