New-look Bulls give Skiles a win in Windy City debut

Chicago, IL (Basketball News) - Jamal Crawford scored a game-high 30 points and Eddy Curry added 22, as the Bulls gave Scott Skiles a 97-87 victory over Milwaukee in his head coaching debut with Chicago.

"I thought we played hard beginning to end," said Skiles after the game. "I was just really proud of the way we played."

Skiles was hired to replace Bill Cartwright, who was dismissed after the team got off to a 4-10 start. Chicago lost two more games under interim coach Pete Myers.

Newly-acquired forwards Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis also contributed for the Bulls, who snapped a seven-game skid. Williams scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Davis added 11 points.

The two were traded from Toronto in exchange for Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall and forward Lonny Baxter. The Bulls also received Chris Jefferies in the deal.

Michael Redd’s 26 points led Milwaukee, which lost for just the second time in five games.

Chicago led by six at halftime and increased its advantage to 51-43 early in the third quarter. Milwaukee, however, responded with a 15-4 burst to jump in front. A field goal by Redd capped the run and put the Bucks ahead, 58-55, midway through the third quarter.

Trailing 69-64, the Bulls took over the game beginning with a 10-point spurt. Davis started the decisive run with a jumper and Crawford and Williams dunked back-to-back to put Chicago in front for good, 74-69, early in the fourth quarter.

After a basket by Milwaukee’s Marcus Haislip, the Bulls ran off 10 more unanswered points. Davis started the spurt with a jumper and scored again to give Chicago an 84-71 advantage midway through the final stanza.

A three-pointer by Crawford with 3:45 to play in the contest put Chicago in control, 91-75.

Crawford finished 12-of-23 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

The Bucks used a late run to get within four, 91-87, but Chicago scored the final six points of the game to come away with the victory.

Milwaukee led early and took a 27-19 advantage into the second quarter after Desmond Mason hit a three-pointer just before the end of the opening stanza.

Chicago tied the game at 37-37 with under five minutes to play in the first half on a basket by Crawford. Crawford’s three-pointer just before the end of the opening half gave the Bulls a 49-43 advantage at the break.

The Bulls won for just the second time this season at home (2-6).

Chicago placed forward Tyson Chandler on the injured list with lower back pain earlier in the day and activated forward Linton Johnson III from the injured list. Bucks forward Tim Thomas missed his third straight game with an ankle injury.