Knicks-Bulls Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Apr 09 2012 4:55PM

Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks got the best of Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls over the weekend, pulling out a thrilling win in front of a nationally televised audience.

The Bulls won't have to wait too long for a chance at revenge.

NBA-leading Chicago looks to continue its home domination of New York as these Eastern Conference rivals square off again Tuesday night at the United Center.

After taking an early 21-point lead Sunday at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (29-27) found themselves down by 10 with under four minutes to play before Anthony came through. Rose and Luol Deng missed four potentially game-sealing free throws to open the door for Anthony, who made a game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in regulation before hitting the game-winning 3 with 8 seconds left in overtime in Sunday's 100-99 win.

Anthony finished with a season-high 43 points on 16-of-31 shooting, making 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

"This was a playoff game. We have a chance, we might play these guys in the playoffs if we keep doing what we're doing and get that seed, so this was a big statement game for us and we willed this one," said Anthony, who has averaged 31.2 points on 49.1 percent shooting over the last five games.

Rose, meanwhile, scored 29 points but went 8 for 26 in his first game back after missing 12 due to a strained right groin. The league's reigning MVP committed a season-high eight turnovers and missed two potential game-winning shots.

"I didn't think of (my groin)," Rose told the team's official website. "I'm not worried about it. My thing is just trying to get better. Defensively, we weren't there. Hopefully next time we play them we come out with a sense of urgency."

The Bulls (43-14) seemed to be caught off guard by the Knicks' improved defense, missing 11 of their first 12 shots and committing a handful of early miscues. They finished with 19 turnovers and forced just nine.

"We should be able to overcome all of that stuff," said coach Tom Thibodeau, who had his starting five together for only the 11th time this season. "You just have to do the right things. We do the right things, you're not going to have those problems. You're not going to have those turnovers. Simple plays: Protect the ball, keep the ball moving, quick decisions, hit the first open man, sustain your spacing, protect the ball, tuck it on the catch, fight for your space, get your space. Simple."

New York has surrendered just 88.6 points per contest in winning 11 of 14 since coach Mike Woodson took over. The Bulls have averaged just 90.8 in dropping three of four - their worst stretch of the season.

Chicago took the first two matchups in this season's series by a combined eight points - including a 104-99 home win March 12 behind 32 points from Rose. The Bulls have had their way with the Knicks on their own court, taking 17 of 20 matchups.

While Chicago is trying to hold on to the league's top record, New York sits in a seventh-place tie with Philadelphia for the final two postseason berths in the East - with ninth-place Milwaukee looming right behind. The Knicks conclude this two-game road swing with another crucial matchup Wednesday against the Bucks.

"(Sunday was) big for us as a team," said rookie guard Iman Shumpert, who had 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals. "One game at a time, we gotta chip away. Milwaukee's right behind us, we're just trying to keep moving up."

Hamilton leads Bulls over Knicks, 98-86

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Posted Apr 11 2012 2:18AM

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls thought they were finally getting their whole team back together for the final stretch.

Instead, Derrick Rose was out again. The Bulls came out on top, anyway.

Richard Hamilton scored 20 points, Luol Deng added 19 and Chicago beat the New York Knicks 98-86 Tuesday night even though they were playing without their superstar point guard again.

Hamilton had 18 points in the third quarter to help Chicago stay ahead after building a 12-point halftime lead. Kyle Korver added 14 points and three blocks, and the Bulls prevailed despite Carmelo Anthony's 29 points for New York.

"That's what I've been doing my whole career," Hamilton said. "But on this team, I've got to pick my moments. There are so many guys on this team that can score."

With their star sidelined again, this was a good time for Hamilton to step up.

Rose's latest injury is a sprained right ankle, which he suffered in Sunday's overtime loss at New York. He lobbied to play after warming up before Tuesday's game, but the Bulls improved to 16-7 without him.

"I just think it was the smart thing to do in this situation," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "If we're going to err, we're going to err on the side of caution. He wanted to play and we felt it was best that he didn't."

The league's reigning MVP, Rose was injured in the first half Sunday after returning from a 12-game absence because of a groin problem.

Rose wound up scoring 29 in that game, but shot only 8 of 26 and missed potential winning shots at the end of regulation and OT, as well as two free throws with the Bulls up by three with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

He's missed 23 games because of a variety of ailments, including a turf toe injury and back spasms. Still, the Bulls managed to get back to winning after dropping three of four, beating a team they might meet in the first round of the playoffs.

They also moved three games ahead of Miami for the Eastern Conference lead, with the Heat visiting on Thursday and are trying to capture the No. 1 overall seed for the second straight year.

"If nothing else, if there's a Game 7, you want to play at home," Korver said. "We know that. But Thibs preaches every day, `One game at a time, one game at a time.' We're a brainwashed bunch."

Anthony came up big again for the Knicks after scoring a season-high 43 and hitting the go-ahead 3 in overtime on Sunday, but New York got pounded on the boards 51-33.

The Bulls outscored the Knicks 25-5 on second-chance points and cut down on the turnovers, finishing with 12 after committing 20 in the previous game.

"We got outrebounded," Anthony said. "They beat us on the boards. I got two rebounds. I've got to do better than that."

Then again, as Tyson Chandler said, Anthony was the "one bright spot" for New York. Chandler did have 15 rebounds, but otherwise, it was a mismatch on the glass.

"That's kind of their game," he said. "They attack the basket. They get you out of position and then the big guys come and crash the boards. We didn't do a good job of boxing out."

Deng had 10 rebounds and hit 3 of 6 3-pointers while trying to contain Anthony. Korver was 3 of 5 from long range and had 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton played just 20 minutes because he's missed most of the season because of injuries, but he was his usual active self, running off screens and wearing out the opposition. He certainly made the most of his time, particularly in the third.

The Knicks got to 53-50 early in the quarter, but Hamilton answered with a 20-footer and two free throws. Deng then made a 3 to make it a 10-point game, and the Bulls stayed in control after that.

"(Hamilton's) putting a lot of work in," Thibodeau said. "He's getting more comfortable. You can see his rhythm coming around."

NOTES: The Knicks sent C Jerome Jordan to Erie of the NBA Development League to get more playing time. A rookie, he's averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 19 appearances. ... The Bulls took three of four from New York and won the season series for the fourth time in five years.

Notebook: Bulls 98, Knicks 86

Posted Wednesday April 11, 2012 1:21AM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Playing again without reigning MVP point guard Derrick Rose due to injury, the Chicago Bulls avenged a loss from Sunday in New York by beating the Knicks 98-86 Tuesday at the United Center. The Bulls held the Knicks to 10 points in the second quarter and led the entire second half. The Bulls were led by Rip Hamilton, who had his best game as a Bull with 20 points, 18 in the third quarter. Luol Deng added 19 points and Kyle Korver had 14 points off the bench. Carmelo Anthony, who had 43 points in the game on Sunday, had 29 to lead the Knicks.

THE FACTS II: The Knicks came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter Sunday to force overtime, but the Bulls maintained their lead through the fourth on Tuesday.

THE STAT: The Bulls outrebounded the Knicks 51-33, and had 18 offensive rebounds to just five for the Knicks.

THE STAT II: Led by Korver, the Bulls' bench outscored the Knicks' second team 33-18.

QUOTABLE: "This was just an awkward game for us. We just let it get away."
-- Knicks forward Tyson Chandler

QUOTABLE II: "I'm just trying to get my rhythm back. We don't have much practice time, so I have to do it in games."
-- Bulls guard Rip Hamilton

TURNING POINT: After winning the first quarter 25-22, the Knicks went 4-for-22 in the second quarter and trailed by 12 at halftime.

GOOD MOVE: Another indication that Tom Thibodeau does not let coaching convention bother him. With the Knicks leading 25-22 at the end of the first quarter, he had point guard John Lucas III commit a non-free-throw foul, then called on defensive point guard Mike James to play the last 6.4 seconds of the quarter. James forced Baron Davis into a turnover and the quarter ended 25-22 in favor of the Knicks.

GOOD MOVE II: When it was necessary to give Deng a rest, Thibodeau used rookie Jimmy Butler to keep Anthony in check.

INJURY UPDATE: In front of the entire early audience, as well as Bulls vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman, Rose went through a lengthy running drill to test his sore ankle. It was decided that Rose was unable to play in the game, and the defending league MVP thus missed his 23rd game of the season. Amar'e Stoudamire also warmed up hard before the game as he continues to work to come back from his bulging back disc that has caused him to miss eight games.

HOT: Korver had an incredible fourth quarter for the Bulls, and finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

NOTABLE: The loss dropped the Knicks to 29-28, one game ahead of Milwaukee in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference and one game behind Philadelphia, which won on Tuesday ... the Knicks play the Bucks on Wednesday night in Milwaukee ... Rose has missed 23 games this season due to injury.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Thursday vs. Miami, Sunday @ Detroit, Monday vs. Washington. For the Knicks, Wednesday @ Milwaukee, Friday vs. Washington, Sunday vs. Miami.

• Knicks: Lin, Stoudemire
• Bulls: Rose

• Knicks: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #26 Pat Fraher, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 22131
• Duration: 2:25