Career night for Deng as Bulls top Blazers

Kirk Hinrich had 21 points and 12 assists, and Ben Gordon added 17 points for the Bulls, who won three straight and seven of their last nine games.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, and Zach Randolph added 17 points for Portland, which has lost two straight since its three-game winning streak. Martell Webster chipped in 14 points and Jarrett Jack had 10 points and nine assists for the Blazers, who were without Brandon Roy for the entire game and Ime Udoka for much of the contest.

Roy missed the game after his girlfriend went into labor just prior to the contest, and Udoka left early in the second quarter with a concussion.

Dan Dickau’s running jumper pulled Portland to within four, 80-76, but Chicago pulled away with an 8-0 run, capped by a Deng jumper putting the margin at 12, 88-76 with 4:31 to go in the game.

Portland shot 52.5 percent but committed 24 turnovers, leading to 27 Chicago points.

Aldridge shot 5-for-6 in the first quarter to lead the Blazers to a 31-25 lead after 12 minutes. Portland led 45-41 at the intermission.

Trailing 51-47, a Gordon jumper sparked a 7-0 spurt that put Chicago ahead, 54-51, with 7:15 left in the third quarter. The Bulls never trailed thereafter.

Gordon scored 13 points in the quarter and the Bulls led 69-63 heading into the final frame.

Game Notes

Chicago had a team total of 28 assists...The Bulls have won three straight and five of the last six in the series overall and three in a row as the host...Udoka played 12 minutes with one rebound and did not attempt a shot before leaving with the concussion...The Bulls currently sit fifth overall in the Eastern Conference.