Tue, 01/29 Timberwolves @ Bulls, Predictions & Comments

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (8-35) @ CHICAGO BULLS (17-26)
Regular Season Game 44, Home Game 23
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 – 7:30 P.M. CT
United Center
COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO / ESPN AM 1000



http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/hinrich_061209.jpg
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http://www.clubbulls.com/forums/tue-jan-29-timberwolves-bulls-t771.html
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Chicago Bulls



Probable Starters: Hinrich, Sefolosha, Nocioni, Smith & Wallace
Record: 17-26 (.395)
5th Central Division
At Home: 9-13
At Road: 8-13
Streak: L2

PPG: 94.4
FG%: .421
RPG: 43.7

Opp PPG: 97.5
Opp FG%: .449
Opp RPG: 43.0


Player Stats
PPG: Gordon 19.6, Deng 17.9
APG: Hinrich 6.1, Duhon 3.9
RPG: Wallace 8.6, Deng 6.6
SPG: Wallace 1.34, Hinrich 1.15
BPG: Wallace 1.61, Thomas 0.82

Minnesota Timberwolves



Probable Starters: Telfair, Jaric, Gomes, McCants & Jefferson
Record: 8-35 (0.186)
5th Northwest Division
At Home: 6-14
At Road: 2-21
Streak: W1

PPG: 94.2
FG%: .441
RPG: 41.9

Opp PPG: 102.6
Opp FG%: .468
Opp RPG: 41.5

Player Stats
PPG: Jefferson 21.1, McCants 14.9
APG: Telfair 5.9, Jaric 4.3
RPG: Jefferson 12.1, Gomes 5.2
SPG: Jaric 1.21, Telfair 1.07
BPG: Ratliff 2.83, Jefferson 1.35
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http://www.nba.com/games/20080129/MINCHI/preview.html

Timberwolves-Bulls Preview
By JEFF MEZYDLO, STATS Writer
Posted Jan 28 2008 3:20PM

It took some time, but the Minnesota Timberwolves finally appear to be making some progress.

[...]

Minnesota (8-35) still has the worst record in the NBA, but the Timberwolves have been making strides toward respectability in their first season since star Kevin Garnett was traded to Boston. They proved that again by winning for the third time in four games Sunday, 98-95 at home over New Jersey.

"We're moving in the right direction and we're growing," said Minnesota coach Randy Wittman, whose team lost 31 of its first 36 contests.

[...]

Minnesota is catching the underachieving Bulls (17-26) at the right time, with top scorers Ben Gordon and Luol Deng expected to be out of the lineup Tuesday and possibly when the teams meet in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

[...]

Jefferson, the team's leader with 21.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, is averaging 28.8 points and 12.7 boards over his last four contests.

Minnesota, 2-21 away from home, will try for its second straight win at Chicago after posting a 91-81 victory there on Dec. 9, 2006.

The Bulls, meanwhile, look to avoid a third straight loss when they conclude a four-game homestand Tuesday.

With Gordon (sprained right wrist) and Deng (Achilles' tendinitis) out again, Chicago lost 88-77 to Phoenix on Sunday.

Gordon, who averages 19.6 points, is day-to-day after missing his last three games. Deng, who averages 17.9 points, has missed four of five games and is expected to be out one to three weeks for Chicago, which has been held to the same point total in its last two contests.

Kirk Hinrich will again try to carry the offensive load for the Bulls after scoring 31 points on 12-for-23 shooting Sunday. Hinrich, who averages 12.5 points per game, had a career-high 38 points in a win over Indiana last Wednesday.

"I'm just trying to be aggressive," said Hinrich, who averaged 17.0 points in two games against Minnesota in 2006-07. "(I'm) trying to make a conscious effort to take the ball to the basket, trying to make plays."

Guard Chris Duhon, who played the last two games after missing two with a bruised left knee, is expected to be out for the next few contests after playing 32 minutes Sunday.

"I think it's definitely affecting me," Duhon said.

Chicago hasn't lost three in a row at the United Center since dropping five straight there from Dec. 20, 2005-Jan. 4, 2006.

Copyright 2007 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

My predictions from Bulls Pick 2 Click:

bullsger wrote:Score: Bulls 104 Timberwolves 97

Points: Kirk Hinrich
Assists: Kirk Hinrich
Rebounds: Ben Wallace
Steals: Kirk Hinrich
Blocks: Ben Wallace
FG %: Andrés Nocioni

4:16 to play in the 3rd quarter

Bulls 57 T'wolves 55

Noah already with a double-double - 10 pts 11 reb

not playing for the Bulls tonight: Gordon, Deng, Duhon, Smith

End of 3rd

Bulls 71 Timberwolves 62

nearly all playing Bulls already scored tonight beside of Wallace, who "only" have a good defensive game versus Jefferson

4th quarter starts now...Noah started tonight for Smith...

Gray with jumper

Bulls leadings with 11

steal from Kirk

basket from Thomas

Bulls 77 Wolves 64

Gray to the line

Gray makes both

Bulls 79 Wolves 66

timeout

Bulls leading 79-66

8:48 to play

looks good I think


Hinrich 21 pts, 5 ast
Noc 18 pts, 5 reb
Noah 10 pts, 13 reb
Thabo 10 pts, 5 reb
Wallace 9 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
Khrypa 7 pts
Thomas 5 pts
Gray 7 pts
Griffin 1 pt 2 reb