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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago Bulls are once again getting used to
winning. A little.
Five Bulls scored in double figures Tuesday as Chicago won for
the fifth time in 11 games since the All-Star break, beating
Cleveland 87-74.
Reserve Marcus Fizer's 17 points paced Chicago, which still has
the league's worst record at 11-48.
"I was thinking on the bench that we have been in a lot of
games since the break and won some of them," Fizer said. "So
winning is not such a strange thing anymore."
"We're improving," said forward Elton Brand, who scored 14.
"Five and six after the break and throw in a couple tough losses.
But that's how we grow and learn."
Ron Artest also had 14 points, while Brad Miller added 13 and
Fred Hoiberg 12.
Cleveland was held to 35 percent shooting by the Bulls, whose
13-point victory margin was their second-highest of the season.
"Getting a few wins," Chicago coach Tim Floyd said, "has
really helped our confidence."
Early on, the Bulls rode the hot hands of Miller, Artest and
Fizer, who combined for 34 first-half points on 15-of-21 shooting.
Fizer's long 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer put Chicago up
29-18, and the Bulls led by as many as 20 before Cleveland shaved
the halftime lead to 56-41.
Cleveland scored six straight points to open the second half
before Hoiberg stopped the run with a 3-pointer and a layup to put
Chicago ahead 61-47. The Bulls closed the final 1:34 of the third
quarter with a 7-0 run to lead 74-55.
Matt Harpring scored 16 for the Cavaliers, who have now lost of
17 of their last 19 games.
"It's been hard to find many guys who came with any effort
tonight," said Cleveland coach Randy Wittman. "We had players
that looked disinterested. It's embarrassing the way we've
played."
Game notes
A specialist told guard Ron Mercer on Tuesday he will not
need immediate surgery to fix his severely sprained left ankle.
Mercer, who missed his seventh straight game Tuesday, indicated he
might have his ankle scoped in the summer. Said Mercer: "There's a
lot of fluid buildup. The rehab process is longer and slower than
expected. It will continue to be sore, but I'll have to play
through it. It's a big load off not having surgery." ... Cleveland
took the season series, 3-1.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 95
Charlotte 89
New York 97
Indiana 83
Chicago 87
Cleveland 74
Phoenix 93
Denver 82
Sacramento 98
Toronto 91
Vancouver 105
Portland 97
San Antonio 101
Seattle 73
LA Lakers 97
Golden State 85
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