Bulls, Hawks set for Eastern Conference clash
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(SportsNetwork.com) - Two of the top teams the Eastern Conference has to offer clash Monday night at Philips Arena, where the Atlanta Hawks will host the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls are 11-3 on the road and posted their third straight win with Sunday's 93-75 beatdown of the Miami Heat in South Beach.
Mike Dunleavy scored a team-best 22 points, Jimmy Butler netted 17 and Taj Gibson finished with 15 points for the Bulls, who made 46.5 percent from the floor and sank 9-of-18 3-pointers. Derrick Rose scored 14 points.
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"Every night it can be someone different," Rose of the Chicago scorers.
Pau Gasol was limited to nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Chicago leads the Central Division with a 15-8 mark.
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The Hawks were shooting for 10 straight wins, but dropped a 100-99 decision to the Orlando Magic Saturday in the back end of a home-and-home set.
Jeff Teague scored 24 points, Al Horford added 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Kyle Korver ended with 11 points for Atlanta, which made just 41.7 percent from the floor.
"Both teams couldn't get any separation. Both teams competed," said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer.
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Atlanta's nine-game winning streak was its longest since the Hawks won 11 in a row to open the 1997-98 campaign.
After hosting the Bulls, Atlanta will hit the road for three games against Cleveland, Houston and Dallas.
The Hawks have won six in a row at home and will play the first of three meetings with Chicago this season. The Bulls went 4-0 against the Hawks last season and have won the last six games in the series.
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Chicago is unbeaten in the last three trips to Philips Arena.