Chicago Bulls Winning Streak Ends

Atlanta Hawks 109, Chicago Bulls 94

Josh Smith scored 25 points, Joe Johnson and Vladimir Radmanovic each added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks beat Chicago 109-94 Saturday night to snap the Bulls' six-game winning streak.

John Lucas III had 14 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter for Chicago, which never led. The Bulls, who dropped to 7-2, had been off to their best start since going 12-0 in 1996-97.

Derrick Rose, last season's league MVP, scored eight points for Chicago — his lowest total since the Bulls took a 17-point victory at Toronto on Dec. 15, 2010. He did not return to the game after leaving with 2:29 left in the third quarter.

Both teams used mostly reserves in the fourth before Atlanta coach Larry Drew had starters Smith, Johnson and Al Horford enter the game for a few minutes late in the final period.

Kyle Korver finished with 13 points for the Bulls, and Carlos Boozer and Jimmy Butler each had 12. Omer Asik pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.

The outcome was in stark contrast to last Tuesday at Chicago, where the Hawks blew a 19-point lead in the third quarter and allowed the Bulls to outscore them 34-18 in the final period for a 76-74 loss.

This time, there was no such ugly streak for Atlanta.

The Hawks, who improved to 6-3, have won two straight. They were up 17 late in the first quarter before the Bulls came within two with 4:09 to go in the second on Carlos Boozer's layup.

But Atlanta went on an 18-2 run, ending on Johnson's 12-foot runner in the final seconds of the half, to lead by 18 at intermission.

Jeff Teague's dunk with 5:52 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead at 29.

Hawks forward Marvin Williams left the game midway through the first with a sore left ankle and did not return.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us