Bulls prepare for crucial showdown

Chicago hasn’t won the Central Division since the Michael Jordan-led squad of 1997-98 hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in the back end of its second three-peat and sixth World Championship in franchise history.

Right now the Bulls are four games off Detroit’s lead in the division, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are second in the standings at 3 1/2 games back. Chicago wasted a golden opportunity at home on Saturday when it lost in overtime to LeBron James and the rival Cavs.

Scott Skiles’ squad, though, rebounded with Sunday’s 105-97 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks and won for the fifth time in six games. The big win was necessary for Chicago’s upcoming battle with Detroit, and a win over the Pistons on Wednesday at The Palace would give the Bulls a 12-4 record versus the Central Division.

Despite already punching their ticket to the postseason, the Bulls’ remaining schedule features two showdowns with New Jersey and games against the Atlantic Division-leading and playoff-bound Toronto Raptors and the Southeast Division- leading Washington Wizards.

Skiles has been getting all he can from rookie forward Tyrus Thomas this season, and the first-year phenom is averaging 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 30.7 minutes over his last three games.

Thomas registered a career-high 27 points in 39 minutes in Saturday’s setback against Cleveland, but scored seven of his eight points in the fourth quarter against Atlanta after missing his first five shots. Thomas also sparked his team with a few dazzling dunks, including one over Hawks star Josh Smith, who is also known for defying gravity with tremendous jams.

At 44-31 and fifth in the East standings, Chicago has seven more games to play before the postseason layout is complete and will surely be one of the top teams (Detroit, Cleveland) to beat in the conference.