WASHINGTON (AP) — The Chicago Bulls are 9-3 since Carlos Boozer returned after missing the first 15 games with a broken hand. He showed why Wednesday night — at the Washington Wizards' expense.
Boozer had 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven
assists, played the final 7 minutes with five fouls and scored the clinching
points in the Bulls' 87-80 victory over the Wizards.
"It's amazing that he's doing what he's
doing," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He's still working himself
into shape. His legs aren't under him yet in his timing."
The Bulls' ninth win in 10 games didn't come
easily. Neither team generated consistent offense in the fourth quarter, with
Chicago outscoring Washington 14-10 in the period.
"It had a weird rhythm to it. It wasn't a
fluid fourth quarter," Boozer said. "That's part of it, though. Some
quarters are going to be like that. This game it just happened to be the fourth
quarter."
Boozer was called for two offensive fouls on
back-to-back possessions during one of the scoreless stretches in the fourth
quarter. Those possessions were bookended by offensive fouls by fellow big man
Kirk Thomas, leaving both players with five fouls with 6 minutes to go.
Thibodeau didn't flinch, leaving both in the game.
Thomas fouled out with two minutes left, but Boozer remained in the game and
scored four of the Bulls' final six points, including a layup with 35 seconds
left that sealed the win after Washington pulled within three points.
"Around the 6-minute mark, where they both had
five, the question is, 'Do you take one out?'" Thibodeau said. "The
way it was going, I felt we could take a chance."
Although the Wizards briefly regained the lead,
Rose's free throws gave the Bulls the edge again at 68-67 with 2 minutes left
in the third, and Chicago didn't give it away again.
The Wizards started well, scoring 33 points in the
first quarter and leading 50-46 at the half. Washington extended the lead to
eight points — its largest margin of the game — immediately after the break.
"They're a good defensive team," said
Washington guard Kirk Hinrich, who finished with 19 points. "The ball was
sticking a little bit. We weren't moving as well as we were early in the game
for whatever reason, and that's whey our scoring went down."
Even early there were signs of trouble. About 3½
minutes in, forward Andray Blatche got a steal and went in for a fast-break
layup when he seemed to lose his grip on the ball and wildly throw it off the
backboard.
"After that layup, I knew it was going to be a
long night — and it was," said Blatche, who had seven points and four
rebounds.
Nick Young scored 22 points for the Wizards, who
again fell short in an attempt for its first two-game winning streak of the
season. Washington has lost 12 of its last 14 games.
Rashard Lewis made his first appearance for the
Wizards since being traded from Orlando for Gilbert Arenas. Lewis had a
relatively quiet night off the bench, going 0 for 5 from the 3-point line.
Lewis finished with eight points and five fouls.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
(AP
Photo/Nick Wass)
