Bulls deal Hornets 10th straight loss
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Pau Gasol amassed 19 points and 15 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls finished strong to record a 102-95 win over Charlotte, the Hornets' 10th consecutive loss.
Jimmy Butler and Derek Rose each scored 15 points for Chicago, which squandered a 13-point third-quarter lead before embarking on a 15-4 run in the fourth to put the scuffling Hornets away.
Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic each posted double-doubles in the victory, with Noah compiling 14 points and 10 rebounds and Mirotic contributing 11 points and 12 boards off the bench.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Charlotte received 23 points from Kemba Walker and 20 out of Lance Stephenson, but was badly outshot by the Bulls from the perimeter. The Hornets hit just 2- of-15 attempts from 3-point range, compared to a 12-of-28 mark for Chicago.
"The obvious difference in this game was 3-point shooting," said Hornets head coach Steve Clifford. "We played hard, we did some good things, but we didn't do enough to win."
Walker fueled Charlotte's third-quarter rally by pouring in 17 points for the period, the last three coming on a layup and free throw that put the Hornets up 71-70 with 1:27 to go in the frame. Charlotte led 78-77 with nine minutes left, then struggled to hit shots as the Bulls got hot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Butler knocked down a jumper that was followed by Mirotic's 3-point play and a beyond-the-arc basket by Aaron Brooks, staking Chicago to an 85-78 advantage. Shortly afterward, Mirotic knocked down a three that preceded Gasol's successful jumper that extended the margin to 92-82 with 4:34 to play.
A pair of triples from Kirk Hinrich in the final 3 1/2 minutes helped Chicago stay ahead.
"It was a gut check, and I'm proud of the guys for hanging in there and getting this one," said Hinrich.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Bulls owned a 37-30 lead midway through the second quarter following a 9-4 run, but Charlotte scored the next eight points and held a 40-39 edge two minutes prior to the intermission.
A 3-point play from Gasol then sent Chicago back in front, and the veteran forward tacked on three more points to send the Bulls into the break owning a 45-40 advantage.
Rose then began the second half on fire, dropping in eight points during an 11-3 spurt to start the third quarter that stretched Chicago's lead to 56-43. The Bulls missed their next six shots, though, as Charlotte countered with a 12-1 stretch that got the Hornets within two just past the halfway mark of the period.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Charlotte's last 10-game losing streak came from Feb. 20-March 9, 2013 ... Hinrich made 3-of-6 shots from 3-point range and chipped in 12 points ... Forward Marvin Williams returned for the Hornets after missing two straight games with a strained shoulder ... Chicago rookie Doug McDermott sat out a second straight night with a sore right knee ... The Bulls, now 10-3 on the road this season, have won in six of their last seven visits to Charlotte.