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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) -- It was almost like the good old days at the
United Center, with the Chicago Bulls practically unstoppable on
offense and the fans getting free tacos.
The Bulls made a season-high 11 3-pointers, and were a
season-best 69 percent (11-of-16) from long range as they beat the
ailing New Jersey Nets 100-93 Tuesday night.
It was the first time Chicago shot over 50 percent (36-of-67, 54
percent) at home this season. It was only the second 100-point home
victory this year, meaning every fan got a free taco.
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Bulls' Artest hurt
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Chicago Bulls rookie Ron Artest left the game
midway through the third quarter Tuesday night with a sprained
right ankle.
X-rays were negative, and Artest will be re-evaluated Wednesday.
He did not return to the game.
The New Jersey Nets' Elliot Perry was knocked to the ground as Artest drove to the basket with about 8:30 left in the quarter. As Artest came down, he landed on Perry's foot and rolled his right ankle.
He fell to the ground, grabbing his ankle and grimacing in pain.
With play still going on at the other end of the floor, he tried to
get up but made it only to his knees before falling backward.
Bulls trainers examined Artest before helping him up and into
the locker room.
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"We came out, made our first few shots and that's important
when you're shooting," said Fred Hoiberg, who had two of the
Bulls' 3-pointers. "When our shooters make shots like that, it's
almost contagious."
Almost every Bulls player had a hand in the offense. Matt
Maloney was 5-of-6 from 3-point range for a season-high 19 points.
Elton Brand led Chicago with 22 points and 15 rebounds, and also
had a career-high seven assists.
Chris Carr was 7-of-10 from the floor for 17 points, and Hersey
Hawkins added 10 with three 3-pointers.
Keith Van Horn's layup with 6:25 left in the third cut Chicago's
lead to 64-56, but Maloney hit a 3-pointer and the Nets struggled
to stay within double digits the rest of the game.
With about 3½ minutes left, the Chicago fans were chanting,
"Tacos, tacos." When Hoiberg clinched the 100 points with two
free throws with 31 seconds left, the fans went wild.
"I didn't know what they were yelling about," Hoiberg said.
"I thought they were just happy I was on the line."
The only blemish on the Bulls' game was their free throw
shooting. Chicago was a dismal 17-of-29 (59 percent) from the line.
Van Horn's 25 points led the Nets, who lost for the seventh
straight game despite four players in double figures. Kendall Gill
had 19 points, and Elliott Perry added 17. Jamie Feick had 12
rebounds.
"It seems like we lost our energy when we fell out of the
playoff picture," Gill said. "Now it seems like we're just
waiting for the season to end."
Actually, it wasn't really a fair fight. The Nets are depleted
by injury, with Stephon Marbury (tendinitis), Kerry Kittles (sore
knee) and Evan Eschmeyer (sprained ankle) sitting out in street
clothes. Throw in center Jayson Williams, who hasn't played this
season, and New Jersey is missing about $200 million in talent.
If that's not bad enough, center Jim McIlvaine dressed, but
didn't play. McIlvaine left Saturday night's game with a bulging
disk in his back.
"We weren't very energy-filled," Nets coach Don Casey said.
"I don't know if we didn't have energy because we only played
seven or eight guys. But we had very little bounce."
That the Nets, eliminated from playoff contention Friday, were
in for a long night was clear in a five-second span midway through
the second quarter. They threw the ball away on a wild Van Horn
pass that almost went into the stands and then failed to hustle
back on defense, allowing Ron Artest to score on an uncontested
layup.
Game notes
Kittles, out since Friday, will be examined by New Jersey
and New York Knicks' doctors Wednesday. Kittles' offseason surgery
was performed by the Knicks' doctor. ... Marbury, who missed his
fourth game, also is scheduled to be re-examined this week. ...
Hoiberg, sidelined this season by a strained quadriceps, a sprained
ankle and a concussion, was sporting a bandage on his left thumb
Tuesday. ... Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill was at the game to see two of his old players, Eschmeyer and McIlvaine.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 98
Sacramento 92
Chicago 100
New Jersey 93
Dallas 92
Portland 81
Houston 103
Denver 93
Golden State 109
Vancouver 97
Phoenix 95
LA Clippers 88
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