LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs beat Chicago 87-77 on Saturday night in the Bulls' home opener.
Aldridge scored 12 points in a 22-13 run that gave San Antonio a 63-51 third-quarter lead. He signed a three-year contract extension a day before the season began.
Rudy Gay added 12 points for the Spurs, playing without All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard (right quadriceps tendinopathy).
Robin Lopez had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls, also short-handed without power forwards Niko Mirotic (facial fractures, concussion) and Bobby Portis (suspension). Rookie Lauri Marakkanen, thrust into the starting lineup because of an incident in practice Tuesday that ultimately sidelined both Mirotic and Portis, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
