Gordon, Bulls steamroll Nets

New Jersey is the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, while the playoff-bound Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers are both three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the Central Division and the conference.

Luol Deng posted 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls, who won their third straight. Kirk Hinrich scored 20 points and Chris Duhon added 12 points for the short-handed Bulls, who were without Ben Wallace (sinus inflammation), Tyrus Thomas (flu), Andres Nocioni (foot plantar fasciitis) and Adrian Griffin (back spasms).

Vince Carter scored 21 points for New Jersey, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Richard Jefferson netted 11 points as the only other Net in double figures.

Chicago exploded out of the gate on a 16-5 run finished by a Gordon jumper at the midway point of the first, and led 31-20 heading into the second.

The Bulls bolstered their lead on a 12-3 run to close the second quarter snapped by a Carter jumper in the final seconds for a 53-38 halftime advantage.

Chicago finished the third quarter on a 7-2 spurt sparked by a Gordon trey with 1:35 left for an 81-62 margin heading into the final stanza.

After Collins’ free throw 1:17 into the fourth, Chicago put the game away on a 20-5 burst as Mike Sweetney’s free throw with 2:22 to go put the Bulls ahead 101-68.

Game Notes

This was the third of four meetings between the clubs this season. The Nets won the first two contests and have captured 10 of the last 13 matchups in the series...New Jersey is scheduled to host the Bulls on April 18th at Continental Airlines Arena.