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casper
01-06-2010, 11:27 AM
WALLACE HELPS BOBCATS OVERCOME BULLS

THE SPORTS NETWORK
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Gerald Wallace had a season-high 32 points and added nine rebounds to help Charlotte hold off the Chicago Bulls in a 113-108 triumph.

Stephen Jackson and Flip Murray went for 25 points apiece and Raymond Felton scored 17 to go with six assists for the Bobcats, who can now count 12 of their 15 wins this season at home.

Charlotte is riding a three-game win streak overall and was coming off an impressive 91-88 road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

"We know now that we can win as a team, and find ways to win. We feel we're confident coming into games now. We know what we have to do to make plays," said Jackson.

Derrick Rose scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half to lead an unsuccessful comeback bid. Rose dished a game-high nine assists in Chicago's second straight defeat while John Salmons posted 19 points.

Luol Deng added 18 points and nine rebounds, Joakim Noah 13 and eight and Kirk Hinrich 12 points and seven assists for the Bulls, who had a four-game winning streak snapped with Monday's home loss to Oklahoma City.

"It's the NBA, nothing is going to come easy. Our guys fought, I liked the way we played better in the second half with a little bit more sense of urgency," said Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro. "We just have to make shots down the stretch, it's as simple as that."

The Bulls began to eat into a seven-point deficit entering the final frame with Salmons' three-pointer dropping for a 93-89 game with 8 1/2 minutes left.

Rose single-handedly made it a two-point affair by pouring in six straight points moments later and his jumper with 4:24 on the clock preserved the same margin at 101-99.

The teams traded baskets from there until back-to-back layups from Rose and Salmons tied the game at 105 with 2:06 to play. Murray hit a pair at the line to put Charlotte back in front.

A missed three from Hinrich, an ensuing Salmons turnover and a missed layup by Rose allowed the slim lead to survive. Charlotte also came up empty on three straight possessions, giving the ball back to Chicago with the clock at 27.8 seconds.

Hinrich bricked a short jumper and Felton secured the board and was sent to the line, making both for a 109-105 game with 23.2 ticks left. The Bulls finally broke through as Salmons was fouled on a layup and converted the three-point play with 18.1 seconds to go.

Jackson hit two free throws at the other end to go up 111-108. Rose clanked a three on the ensuing trip downcourt. Hinrich tipped the offensive board back out to Salmons for a clean look, but it also found iron. Wallace then sealed the win with two additional free throws.

Charlotte jumped out to an early lead and held a slim 31-28 advantage at the close of the first quarter. A 9-0 run through the middle stages of the second had the hosts up by 10, 45-35, after D.J. Augustin's three-pointer with 7:22 to go.

Murray poured in six straight Bobcat points and Wallace added a pair of free throws with three minutes remaining for a 12-point difference. Charlotte took a 59-52 lead into the second half.

Chicago got back to within 63-61 less than three minutes into the third on a pair of Deng baskets.

However, a trio of consecutive long distance makes by Felton, Murray and Wallace had the Bobcats out to an 11-point lead near the midway point of the stanza. The hosts carried an 87-80 lead into the fourth on Felton's heave from near midcourt to beat the buzzer.

Game Notes

Chicago visits Milwaukee on Friday and is 3-12 as the guest this season...The Bulls posted a 93-90 win over Charlotte back on November 7 at the United Center...Charlotte is just 3-14 on the road this year and plays visitor to the Knicks on Thursday before returning home for six straight.