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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) – Maybe the young Chicago Bulls are finally growing
up.
Despite letting a 20-point, third-quarter lead slip to five in
the fourth, the Bulls hung on for a 90-75 victory over the
Vancouver Grizzlies on Saturday night. And they did it without Ron
Mercer, their second-leading scorer, who didn't play in the second
half.
"Just all across the board, guys are playing better in the
fourth quarter," said Fred Hoiberg, who had 14 points and five
rebounds.
"We kept our poise and held them off down the stretch, and we
wouldn't have done that, even two weeks ago."
Of course, it helps when the Bulls have Elton Brand and a
whirling dervish like Ron Artest. Brand had 22 points and 12
rebounds. Artest, who missed Thursday's game while serving a
one-game suspension for fighting with Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson,
made up for his absence with 19 points and a career-high eight
steals.
"It all started with Ron Artest," Hoiberg said. "He was all
over the place tonight."
The Grizzlies lost their third straight despite five players in
double figures and 17 assists from Mike Bibby. That was a United
Center assists record, and one shy of Bibby's career high.
Vancouver was hurt by turnovers (22) and free throws. The Bulls
made 23 of 31 free throws, while the Grizzlies were just nine of 12
from the line.
"We can't afford to spot teams 20-point leads," Vancouver
coach Sidney Lowe said. "We've known that all year. We haven't had
the ability to come back and win those games."
But they did make an effort. After trailing by 20, Shareef
Abdur-Rahim's alley-oop from Bibby with 2:54 left in the third
started an 11-4 run that cut Chicago's lead to 73-63 by the end of
the quarter.
Tony Massenburg pulled Vancouver within 78-75 with 4:34 left to
play on a 17-foot jumper.
But Chicago held the Grizzlies scoreless for the rest of the
game and went on a 12-0 run. Brand sparked the final run with a
layup and two free throws.
After a timeout, Brad Miller was fouled and made both free
throws to give Chicago an 84-75 lead with 2:18 left. And for good
measure, Miller added a layup with 1:44 left to stretch the lead
back to double figures.
"The learning process has really helped us," Brand said. "In
the fourth quarter, we know how to finish games off."
Miller finished with only his second double-double of the
season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Hoiberg added
14 and Marcus Fizer had 13 points despite playing with a deep thigh
bruise.
"It's going to take a lot more than a thigh bruise to keep me
from playing," Fizer said.
Though Mercer played the first half after missing the last three
games with a badly sprained ankle, he didn't play in the second
half.
After the game, Mercer said the ankle still isn't healed.
"I don't know," he said when asked his prognosis. "I have to
talk to them and see what's best for me."
Erick Strickland led the Grizzlies with 15, and Abdur-Rahim and
Grant Long added 14 each.
In the first half, Strickland's layup with 4:14 left cut
Chicago's lead to 41-36 with 4:52 left, but the Grizzlies scored
only one more basket the rest of the half.
The Bulls, meanwhile, went on a tear. Fizer dunked and then made
the second of two free throws. Miller made a pair of free throws
and Fizer had another dunk.
Brand scored on a 7-foot jumper, and Artest drilled a 3-pointer
with less than a second left to send Chicago to halftime with a
53-38 lead.
Game notes
Bibby had eight assists after the first quarter. ... The
Bulls had 16 steals to Vancouver's six. ... The Grizzlies didn't
make any 3-pointers, going 0-for-7 from behind the arc. ... After
losing a franchise-record 16 straight, Chicago is now 3-3.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Vancouver Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 106
Washington 99
Charlotte 86
Philadelphia 85
Miami 75
New Jersey 70
Chicago 90
Vancouver 75
San Antonio 107
Dallas 104
Denver 85
Atlanta 82
LA Clippers 123
Portland 120
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