Chicago Bulls Team Report - February 2

(Basketball News) - The Bulls have returned to Earth with consecutive road losses, including a 107-97 defeat to the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena on Tuesday night. It has marked the first two-game skid for the Bulls since early December.

Kirk Hinrich paced the Bulls with 18 points, while Ben Gordon tossed in 17 off the bench. Tyson Chandler chipped in 15 and Jannero Pargo posted 10 off the pine in the defeat.

Hinrich, a second-year player out of Kansas, is leading the Bulls in points (15.8) and assists (7.0) per contest this season. Gordon, a rookie from UConn, is third on the club with 13.4 points per game despite coming off the bench. Meanwhile, Chandler is the squad’s best rebounder with nine boards per contest.

The Bulls hit 47 percent of their shots, but allowed the Nets to drain 50 percent from the field. Chicago hurt itself with 18 turnovers which led to 19 New Jersey points.

The Bulls hit 6-of-15 (.400) from three-point range and 23-of-35 (.657) from the free throw line. Chicago ended up losing the rebounding war, 36-34, in the game.

Chicago resides in third place in the Central Division and seventh overall in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Bulls have tallied a 22-21 mark this season.

The Bulls have the next three days off before finishing up their week’s slate against Miami at American Airlines Arena on Saturday. Chicago will continue its five-game road trip in Dallas next Tuesday.