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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago's Jamal Crawford has been waiting for a chance to contribute. The Bulls' rookie guard made the most of his opportunity against Charlotte.
Crawford scored 11 points -- all in the fourth quarter and
overtime -- including the game-winning free throw as Chicago beat
Charlotte 93-90 Friday night.
Ron Mercer scored 30 points and Elton Brand added 26 as the Bulls snapped an eight-game losing streak and earned their first
victory in 2½ weeks.
"I just wanted to come in and not make things worse," said
Crawford, who turned 21 on Tuesday. "It's a great feeling. We
worked hard and came through."
Crawford's free throw with 42 seconds left in overtime put the
Bulls ahead 91-90. Mercer then added two more free throws to
complete the scoring.
According to Mercer, Crawford just needed an opportunity to prove his ability.
"Jamal is in those kind of situations now," Mercer said.
"Tonight coach threw him out there and he didn't hesitate."
Jamal Mashburn, who missed a 3-pointer with five seconds
remaining, finished with 25 points and Baron Davis added 20 for the
Hornets, who lost for only the fourth time in 18 games.
A running jumper by Mashburn with 31 seconds left in regulation
tied the game at 84 and sent it into overtime.
"I don't know if it's our not taking them seriously or them
believing they can beat us," said Charlotte forward P.J. Brown,
who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime. "It's a dogfight
every time we play them."
Brand showed no signs of the left knee tendinitis that caused him to miss the last four games. He made four of his first five shots and was an active passer and rebounder.
A pair of Davis 3-pointers, the latter at the first-quarter
buzzer, gave Charlotte a 28-22 lead.
Brand scored eight points in a 12-0 run as Chicago moved out to
a 36-32 lead. Charlotte rallied and held a 45-44 lead at the half.
Otis Thorpe's short leaner tied the game at 67 with 9:18 left in the fourth. Crawford tied the game at 77 and again at 80. His 18-footer then gave Chicago an 84-82 lead.
After Mashburn's tying basket, Crawford missed a wide-open 15-foot jumper at the buzzer, forcing overtime.
After a pair of baskets by both teams, Brand's jumper with 1:34 left in overtime gave Chicago a 90-88 lead. David Wesley's layup with just under a minute left tied it at 90 before Crawford went to the free throw line.
Game notes
Count A.J. Guyton among Bob Knight's fans, but the Bulls
rookie doesn't expect Knight to change his ways for long. "I think
he'll try," said Guyton, who played for Knight at Indiana from
1996-2000. "It'll only work so long before he'll lose it. Maybe
after the first game he'll go back to the 'old' coach. He is doing
what he loves to do. It's an opportunity for him to rebuild himself
in college basketball." ... Forward Marcus Fizer sat out with a
deep right thigh bruise. ... Charlotte had beaten Chicago nine
straight times.<
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 95
Vancouver 75
Toronto 112
Atlanta 86
New Jersey 95
New York 86
Minnesota 101
Denver 90
Chicago 93
Charlotte 90
Milwaukee 115
Orlando 103
Phoenix 84
Philadelphia 71
LA Lakers 104
Washington 91
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