Chicago Bulls Team Report - December 5

(Basketball News) - Chicago lost its first game under new head coach Scott Skiles on Thursday, as the Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the Bulls, 83-82, at the Wachovia Center.

Jamal Crawford paced the Bulls with 22 points and five assists. Eddy Curry added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Kirk Hinrich had 14 off the bench as Chicago suffered its sixth straight road defeat.

The Bulls took a 51-41 advantage on Crawford’s three-pointer early in the third quarter. However, the Sixers scored 21 of the next 30 points for a 62-60 lead after 36 minutes of play. Allen Iverson’s layup off a steal capped the run and gave Philadelphia its first lead since 2-0. Iverson scored 14 points in the surge.

Chicago eventually took back the lead at 75-74 on an Antonio Davis basket midway through the fourth quarter. Crawford later buried an 18-foot jumper to give the Bulls an 80-77 lead.

After an Aaron McKie basket pulled the 76ers within one at 82-81, Iverson’s layup gave Philadelphia an 83-82 lead with less than one minute to play. The Bulls then had a chance to go ahead in the waning seconds, but the inbounds pass caromed off the backboard and the Sixers prevailed.

The Bulls are off until Saturday when they host Baron Davis and the New Orleans Hornets.