CHICAGO (AP) _ Elton Brand had 18 points and 14 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls pulled away in the third quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks 88-78 in an exhibition game Thursday night.

Marcus Fizer, the Bulls' top pick in June's draft, hit three straight baskets to start a 21-5 third-quarter run that opened up a 70-52 lead.

Fizer finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, Michael Ruffin grabbed 14 rebounds and Ron Mercer added 13 points for Chicago (3-2).

Atlanta's Lorenzen Wright had 19 points of his 20 points in the first half, and also finished with 10 rebounds. Jim Jackson scored 16 and rookie DerMarr Johnson 14 for Atlanta.

The Bulls led 45-43 at the half behind 11 points and nine boards from Brand.

The Hawks played without center Dikembe Mutombo, who has malaria, and forward Alan Henderson, who has a bruised right knee.

"Atlanta is beat up without Mutombo and Henderson. They missed a lot of point blank shots and that had more to do with their 78 points than our defense," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said.

Atlanta shot just 33 percent (31-for-95) and fell to 1-5 under first-year coach Lon Kruger.

"We've got a lot of work to do and look forward to getting that done," Kruger said. "We've got to be more efficient, take better shots and make that extra pass."

Kruger returned to the United Center, where seven months ago he took the University of Illinois to the Big Ten tournament finals for a second straight year.

After compiling an 81-48 record with three NCAA tournament appearances in four years at Illinois, Kruger stunned the state and the school when he left for the NBA.

Floyd came to Chicago from Iowa State two years ago.

"He's been receptive and helpful, especially him moving from college to the NBA. It gives him a perspective that helps me," Kruger said.

"His recommendation was to do it like you've always done it. And that's probably the thing I realized is that our practices are not any different than what they were over the last 10 years. As long as you got the players who want to win and get better and work at it a little, you can do that."

Now Kruger's responsibilities have changed some.

"You probably find yourself watching film all day, the X's and O's. And it's like you feel you should be doing something else. I should be worrying about this study hall ... or what the players are doing later tonight," Kruger said.

"You don't worry about any of that. From that aspect, it is different."