(SportsNetwork.com) – The Chicago Bulls could get some reinforcements when
they invade Milwaukee Wednesday night to take on the Central rival Milwaukee
Bucks at the Bradley Center.
The Bulls didn’t have star guard and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose for a second
straight game in Tuesday’s 98-90 victory over the winless Orlando Magic and
center Joakim Noah was sidelined with an illness.
Jimmy Butler picked up the slack with 21 points, Pau Gasol contributed 16 and
13 rebounds and Taj Gibson scored 16 points as well. Aaron Brooks and Doug
McDermott had 13 and 12 points, respectively, off the bench for the Bulls, who
have won two in a row and shot 46.7 percent.
“We kept battling. I thought our bench guys were terrific,” Bulls coach Tom
Thibodeau said. “And our starters. We had a lot of guys step up.”
Meanwhile, Rose sprained both ankles in last Friday’s overtime loss to
Cleveland and said he’ll feel comfortable when he regains that burst of speed.
“If I can get to a spot, I can play. If I’m not 100 percent or if I can’t play
the way I normally play, there’s no need for me to be out there right now,”
Rose told the Chicago Tribune.
Noah reportedly did not take the team bus to Milwaukee and could meet his
teammates there if his illness subsides.
The Bulls will make a stop in Philadelphia on Friday and will face another
touted rookie in Milwaukee’s Jabari Parker. The Bulls recently disposed of
Andrew Wiggins and Minnesota a few days ago.
Parker and the Bucks have alternated wins and losses through their first four
games and recorded an 87-81 triumph Tuesday at Indiana. Brandon Knight led the
visitors with 23 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 11 and both Parker and
Jerryd Bayless ended with 10 points. Larry Sanders posted 10 rebounds and
three blocks.
“This is a deep team and everyone knows they are going to have a chance to
play,” Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said.
Milwaukee scored 28 points off 19 Indiana turnovers and made 44.6 percent of
its shots. It also halted a road losing streak that lasted almost eight
months.
The Bucks won their home opener versus Philadelphia last Friday and lost three
of four contests against Chicago in 2013-14. The Bulls have won 13 of the past
16 meetings with the Bucks and are unbeaten in eight straight trips to the
Bradley Center.
