Knicks-Bulls Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Dec 08 2012 12:55AM

The New York Knicks may be without Carmelo Anthony again, so Raymond Felton looks to continue shaking off his own injury in an attempt to pick up the slack in his absence.

The Chicago Bulls are enjoying their best stretch of the season and could be facing the Eastern Conference leaders at an opportune time.

With Anthony's status unclear, the Knicks may need another big performance from Felton as they try to win in Chicago for only the fourth time in over 11 years Saturday night.

A cut on the middle finger of his left hand sidelined Anthony on Thursday in Miami, but New York (14-4) didn't miss its superstar, connecting on 18 3-pointers in an impressive 112-92 win.

The Knicks are on the cusp of matching their season-opening six-game winning streak, and Felton's recent play - especially versus the Heat - is a major reason why.

The point guard is averaging 22.3 points and 7.7 assists while hitting 11 of 24 from beyond the arc over the last three games. That includes a season-high 27 points on 10 of 20 from the field - including 6 of 10 from long range - while playing through a nagging hand injury Thursday.

"He's a tough kid," coach Mike Woodson said. "It's going to take a lot to sit him down. I thought he was hurt. He's got the hand, and I thought he got hit on it. He refused to come out, and he stood in there, stuck it out and was able to bring it home.

"You've got a key guy that goes down, and the other guys get an opportunity to play and step up and make plays."

Another strong game from Felton would surely help if Woodson opts to sit Anthony again ahead of a home meeting with Denver - the forward's former team - slated for Sunday.

Felton is scoring 17.2 points per game over his last five visits to Chicago (10-8), a venue the Knicks rarely find success.

The Bulls have won 18 of the past 21 against New York at the United Center, including both matchups last season.

They also enter this meeting as winners of four of five after losing four of the previous five.

Joakim Noah kept Chicago rolling Friday, posting career highs of 30 points and 23 rebounds as the team erased a 17-point, second-quarter deficit en route to a 108-104 victory at Detroit.

"It's crazy to have numbers like that," said Noah, who averaged 9.8 points and 8.3 boards in four games against the Knicks last season.

Noah, among the league leaders with 10.8 boards this season, is expected to get a heavy dose of Tyson Chandler in a matchup of two of the East's best rebounders. Chandler pulls down an average of 9.4 rebounds, and has 14.5 over the past four games.

Carlos Boozer - averaging 9.7 boards - should provide some help for Noah on the glass. The veteran forward made his presence felt in the scoring column Friday, getting 24 points - his second-highest total of the season - on 12 of 19 from the floor.

Boozer has averaged 15.7 points and 13.5 rebounds in his past six meetings with New York since joining Chicago as a free agent over two years ago.

Bulls end Knicks' 5-game winning streak

Posted Dec 09 2012 12:06AM

CHICAGO (AP) Leave it to Tom Thibodeau's vaunted defense to crash the Knicks' 3-point party.

Marco Belinelli and Luol Deng scored 22 points apiece as the Chicago Bulls beat the Knicks 93-85 on Saturday night, snapping New York's five-game winning streak.

Belinelli matched a career high by playing 45 minutes and sparked the Bulls at the outset with 15 points in the first quarter. Deng led the way at the end, getting 10 points in the fourth.

"I played a lot of minutes," Belinelli said. "We played great on offense and defense. ... That's the way we've got to play."

Deng played 46:34 in the game, helping the Bulls (11-8) to their first three-game winning streak of the season.

"You just keep focusing in on getting a win," Deng said. "While the game is going on, you do not feel fatigue."

Raymond Felton led the Knicks with 27 points, matching his season high set on Thursday in a victory at Miami. However, Felton was just 9 for 30 from the field, exceeding his career high for field-goal attempts by six shots.

"They took the 3s away, took my 3s away off the screen-and-roll, then they attacked the big (men)," Felton said. "That's why I took so many shots today. I normally don't take that many shots.

"Probably haven't taken 30 since high school."

Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Knicks, who shot a season-low 32.1 percent from the floor and matched a season high with 15 turnovers. It was also a season-low point total for New York (14-5).

"You have to give them credit, they played great defense coming down the stretch run," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "I thought they made the hustle plays that they needed to make in order to win the game, and we didn't."

New York, which averaged 13 makes and 33 attempts on 3s during its win streak, was held to 8 for 21 against Chicago, which has allowed the fewest 3-pointers in the league.

"Ain't nothing they did that was so special, they just took away the 3s," Felton said. "I got inside the paint like I wanted to, but at the same time, they took away the 3s and didn't let us get good shots."

Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago. One night after putting up career highs of 30 points and 23 rebounds in a win at Detroit, Noah just missed an odd triple-double, getting 10 points and 11 rebounds and committing a career-worst nine turnovers.

The Knicks again played without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, who missed his second straight game because of stitches in the middle finger of his left hand. Anthony, who is third in the NBA with 26.4 points per game, was hurt in a win over Charlotte on Wednesday.

Former Knicks guard Nate Robinson had 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists off the bench for Chicago, which has won five of its last six and 18 of its last 21 at home against New York.

"It was a hard battle out there," Noah said. "I was really tired out there. I was tired, but it's all worth it right now."

Chandler's free throws pulled New York within three with 1:56 left, but Belinelli hit a side jumper just inside the 3-point line. Then Belinelli fed Noah for a layup with 56 seconds left, putting Chicago up 89-82.

"I was ready to find (Noah) and other guys," Belinelli said. "I don't want to be just a 3-point shooter. I want to be a complete player."

Belinelli hit a 43-footer at the first-quarter buzzer sounded, putting Chicago up by three and giving him a 15-point quarter. The Bulls, who entered the game last in 3-pointers made and attempted, were 4 for 5 from behind the arc in the opening period and made a season-high seven 3s in the game.

Belinelli and Kirk Hinrich hit 3s during a 10-0 Chicago run after New York scored the first six points of the game. In a ragged start to the second quarter, the Knicks didn't convert a field goal during the first 5:39 before J.R. Smith's 3-pointer drew New York within 30-27.

After the Bulls pushed the lead to seven points, reserve Taj Gibson was ejected by official Derrick Stafford, drawing two quick technical fouls after being called for this third personal foul, a loose ball foul on the Knicks' end.

"It's an emotional game, but we have to do better with that," Bulls coach Thibodeau said. "When you get one, you have to let it go."

Steve Novak converted both technical free throws, sparking a nine-point run to give New York the lead. The Bulls battled back and held a 43-41 edge at the break and maintained their two-point advantage through the third period.

NOTES: Anthony warmed up on the court before the game, then declared himself unable to play due to the difficulty he was having catching passes because of the bandage covering his injured finger. He said he hopes to return to action when the Knicks host Denver on Sunday. ... Hinrich began the second half on the bench because of an injured left elbow and didn't return. He's listed as day-to-day.

Notebook: Bulls 93, Knicks 85

Kent McDill, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:34 PM - Updated Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:10 AM

THE FACTS: Marco Belinelli and Luol Deng each scored 22 points, and three other Bulls reached double figures as the Bulls beat the visiting New York Knicks Saturday 93-85 for their first three-game winning streak of the season. Raymond Felton scored 27 points for the Knicks, who played their second straight game without Carmelo Anthony due to a lacerated finger. The Knicks had their five-game winning streak broken.

THE FACTS II: Playing their fourth game in five nights, and their fourth game in a row without starting shooting guard Rip Hamilton, the Bulls overcame the first-half ejection of backup power forward Taj Gibson and an elbow injury to starting point guard Kirk Hinrich to pull off their most impressive win of the season.

QUOTABLE I: "Anybody (on the Bulls) can step up any night and be huge for us."
-- Bulls center Joakim Noah, talking about Belinelli's big night following his own big game Friday.

THE STAT: The Knicks, ranked 10th in the league in field goal shooting, made only 32 percent of their shots (27-for-84). Felton was nine for 30 in getting his 27 points.

THE STAT II: The Bulls were outscored from the free-throw line, 23-18, but they made all 18 of their attempts.

THE STAT III: After his 30-point, 23-rebound game Friday against Detroit, Noah of the Bulls scored 10 points and 11 rebounds Saturday. He also had nine turnovers.

TURNING POINT: The Bulls scored six straight points from the 1:38 point of the fourth quarter to increase their lead from three points to nine points with 55 seconds left.

INJURY UPDATE: Anthony, who warmed up for a lengthy period before the game, said he would play Sunday against Denver, adding that he was having difficulty catching the ball. Hinrich suffered his elbow injury late in the second quarter and did not return.

HOT: The move placing Belinelli in the starting lineup in place of injured guard Hamilton continues to pay off. After a poor first start, Belinelli has averaged just over 20 points per game over the last three games, making 21 of 43 shots (48.8 percent). That includes eight of 20 3-pointers (40 percent).

NOT: The shooting numbers for the Knicks were incredibly bad up and down the box score. Ronnie Brewer missed all five of his shots, Jason Kidd was 2-for-7, J.R. Smith was 4-for-14.

QUOTABLE II: "I thought they made the hustle plays."
-- New York coach Mike Woodson.

QUOTABLE III: "He did not get his money's worth."
-- Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, commenting on Gibson's two immediate technical fouls in the second quarter. Gibson said he did not say anything worthy of a single technical.

GOOD MOVE: Gibson was ejected with 3:40 left in the second quarter for comments he made to referee Derrick Stafford after a rebounding foul was called against him. Hinrich left the game with his injury with 2:49 left in the second quarter. The Bulls played most of the second half with six players, as center Nazr Mohammed played just over one minute and rookie point guard Marquis Teague played just three minutes.

NOTABLE: Starting with the Knicks game Saturday, the Bulls play 10 consecutive games against teams that were at .500 or better before Saturday's games... After playing 42 minutes Friday, Luol Deng played all but 86 seconds of the game Saturday. Noah played 44 minutes and Belinelli 45 minutes Saturday... The Knicks play seven of their next eight games at home, where they are 7-0.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Tuesday vs. Clippers, Wednesday @ Sixers, Saturday vs. Nets. For the Knicks, Sunday vs. Nuggets, Tuesday @ Nets, Thursday vs. Lakers.

• Knicks: Shumpert, Stoudemire
• Bulls: Hamilton, Rose

• Knicks: --
• Bulls: Gibson, Gibson

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 13

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #36 David Jones, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 21852
• Duration: 2:13