Wallace’s 27 boards help Bulls beat Bucks

12.16.2006

Chicago, IL (Basketball News) - Ben Wallace scored 10 points, pulled down a season-high 27 rebounds and was one of six Chicago players in double figures, as the Bulls held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 117-111, at the United Center.

Kirk Hinrich netted 21 points and Chris Duhon ended with 19 points and eight assists for the Bulls, who have won three in a row and 10 of their last 11. Tyrus Thomas came off the bench and netted 14 points, all in the second half, and also donated 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 32 points. The Bucks have lost three of four overall and have dropped four straight on the road. They are just 4-10 away from home this season.

Ruben Patterson scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds, while Maurice Williams added 18 points in a losing effort. Milwaukee missed 18 free throws in the contest and finished just 16-of-34 from the line.

Trailing 110-105 with 2:12 remaining, Patterson made one of two from the charity stripe, and a shot by Williams cut the deficit to two before Thomas’ slam dunk at the other end made it 112-108 with 1:06 to play.

Williams then netted a layup and also drew a foul on the play, with the free shot cutting Chicago’s lead to 112-111 before the Bulls put the last five points on the board to seal the win.

Ben Gordon scored 18 points for Chicago, which shot 42 percent (37-of-88) from the floor.

The Bulls scored the first six points of the game and opened a 20-8 lead in the first quarter, but held just a 27-21 margin after 12 minutes of play.

Redd’s trey and a layup by Charlie Villanueva closed the gap to 27-26 to start the second quarter and Milwaukee claimed its first lead of the contest at 10:26, as Redd hit another three-pointer to make it 29-27.

The back and forth action continued into the break. Steve Blake made two free throws to give Milwaukee a 55-53 cushion with 11 ticks remaining, but a tip shot by Wallace at the buzzer sent both teams into halftime with the game tied, 55-55.

Game Notes

Milwaukee made 48 percent of its field goals (43-of-89)...Chicago won the battle of the boards, 59-43...The Bucks have won just twice in their last 12 trips to Chicago...The Bulls play Atlanta on Saturday, while Milwaukee hosts Minnesota.

CHI MIL

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