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Bulls vs. Knicks final score: Chicago withstands big fourth quarter in 110-106 win

2012-12-22T04:16:38Z

The Chicago Bulls entered the fourth quarter of Friday's game against the New York Knicks, the best team in the Eastern Conference, with a 22-point lead. The Knicks played like the league's best team in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Chicago 45-27 to make the final scorer a much closer 110-106, but the Bulls managed to hold on for their second straight win.

Chicago built a 54-39 lead at halftime and the Knicks struggled much of the game. Luol Deng had 29 points and 13 rebounds, Joakim Noah had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Marco Belinelli scored 22 points to lead Chicago. The Bulls shot 45 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range.

J.R. Smith led the Knicks with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Raymond Felton scored 21, but both struggled shooting. Anthony shot 10 for 25 and Felton made 9 for 21 shots and missed all four of his three-point attempts.

NBA schedule: Bulls beat Knicks, clash with Hawks before Christmas Day showcase

2012-12-22T04:08:37Z

The Chicago Bulls (15-10) are pushing through a difficult portion of the schedule, but got off to a good start with a win against the New York Knicks Friday. They follow that with games against the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, which might be the most difficult stretch yet.

The Chicago Bulls have recorded victories in five of their last seven games, but the schedule does not get any easier as the Christmas holiday approaches. After surviving a recent stretch in which they played the New York Knicks (win), Los Angeles Clippers (loss), Philadelphia 76ers (win), Brooklyn Nets (win), Memphis Grizzlies (loss) and Boston Celtics (win), the Bulls must endure another three-pack of tough opponents.

On Friday night the Bulls take on Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks in a game that will be televised nationally on NBA TV, and locally on CSN-Chicago. The Bulls knocked off the Knicks back on Dec. 8 thanks to 22-point performances from Luol Deng and Marco Belinelli, and 32.1 percent shooting overall from New York.

On Saturday they will fly from New York to Atlanta for the second game of a back-to-back against the Hawks. Atlanta currently holds the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, and they rely on great three-point shooting to take down opponents, so it will be interesting to see if the Bulls can keep pace on short rest. The game will be televised on WGN.

On Christmas Day, the Bulls will play host James Harden, Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets as a part of ESPN's Christmas showcase. Chicago will be the prime-time game (7 p.m. CT) that starts immediately after the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat wrap up their game, so a lot of eyes should be on Tom Thibodeau's team during the holiday celebration.

Check here for the full schedule of NBA games this weekend.

Bulls vs. Pistons final score: Chicago storms back for 108-104 victory

2012-12-08T03:15:29Z

Joakim Noah scored 30 points and scooped up 23 rebounds for the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in a 108-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons lead for most of the first half, but a big third quarter powered the Bulls to victory and a 10-8 record on the season.

It was Noah's night that popped -- especially considering that he was going up against another potential All-Star in Pistons center Greg Monroe -- but Chicago's entire starting unit up solid games. Carlos Boozer contributed 24 points (though just six rebounds) and all three other starters were in double figures. As a team, the Bulls shot a scorching 52 percent from the field and pounded the Pistons on the boards, amassing a +13 rebound advantage.

Detroit was nearly as good on offense, shooting 50 percent from the field, 57 percent from three and 77 percent from the free throw line. But they could not overcome the Bulls at the end of the game, dropping to 6-15 on the season.

The Bulls will be back at home on Saturday night, when they host the New York Knicks at the United Center.

Bulls vs. Pistons recap: Chicago comes back in second half for victory

2012-12-08T03:06:11Z

A big third quarter led the Bulls to victory on Friday night.

The Chicago Bulls shot 48 percent from the field in the first half of Friday night's game against the Detroit Pistons but still found themselves down 55-50 at half. That's because Detroit shot 54 percent from the field -- including 4-7 from three -- and 11-12 from the free throw line.

The Bulls were led in scoring and rebounding by Joakim Noah, who put up 12 points and 10 boards. Chicago's other double figure scorer was Carlos Boozer, who scored 10 points but picked up just one rebound and one assist. Rodney Stuckey led all scorers, though, with 15 points on 5-5 shooting to go along with five assists. Brandon Knight put up 12 points going against Chicago's backup guard tandem of Kirk Hinrich and Marco Belinelli, and Greg Monroe chipped in with seven points and four rebounds.

If the Bulls can keep up this rate of offensive production, they should have a chance to come back in the second half if their defense corrects itself to its normal level.

Bears vs. Seahawks score update: Chicago back ahead, 14-10

2012-12-02T20:24:32Z

With the defense rebounding after an up-and-down second quarter, the Chicago Bears are back ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, 14-10, early in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Chicago hasn't lost a game this season during which it's led in the fourth quarter, so the Bears appear to be in a solid position despite the relatively small lead.

After getting pinned down at the Seahawks' 6-yard line early in the third quarter, the Bears' offense took advantage of a pair of costly penalties from Seattle to put together an 11-play, 94-yard touchdown drive. Punctuated with a 12-yard touchdown catch by Matt Forte, it's the sort of long drive that Chicago hasn't always executed this season.

Forte has fared better in the second half after Seattle stifled Chicago's running game in the first two quarters, but it's Jay Cutler that continues to lead the Bears' offense. Cutler has completed 16-of-25 passes for 177 yards and two scores so far, plus he's ran for 27 yards and avoided the mistakes (sacks, turnovers) that often plague his performance.

Bears vs. Seahawks score update: Chicago trails, 10-7, at halftime

2012-12-02T19:34:10Z

Looking unusually shaky on defense in the second quarter, the Chicago Bears gave up a pair of scores and now trail, 10-7, to the Seattle Seahawks going into halftime on Sunday afternoon. With the Bears' offense stagnating and the Seahawks eating up yards through a balanced attack, Seattle's managed to take the lead on the road.

In the first half, the Seahawks put up 219 yards of total offense, including 94 yards on an impressive drive that running back Marshawn Lynch punctuated with a touchdown run. While Lynch lost a big fumble in the first quarter, he's played well, rushing for 51 yards on seven carries.

Seattle's second score came on a last-second field goal from Steven Hauschka, but that only came after a 14-yard touchdown catch by Braylon Edwards on 3rd-and-10 was controversially reversed on review. Russell Wilson makes a fantastic throw on the play, but Edwards doesn't quite get his hands under the ball apparently:

Chicago has also played fairly well on offense, compiling 166 total yards, but the running game has struggled and that proved to be particularly costly on a big 4th-and-1 in Seattle territory midway through the second quarter. On 14 carries, the Bears have rushed for just 41 yards.

Jay Cutler has played well for the Bears so far, completing 10-of-16 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, but he's actually been outplayed statistically by Wilson. The rookie out of Wisconsin has completed 11-of-19 passes for 157 yards.

Seahawks vs. Bears score update: Chicago leads, 7-0, early

2012-12-02T18:44:49Z

The Chicago Bears lead the Seattle Seahawks, 7-0, early in the second quarter of Sunday afternoon's game from Soldier Field. A big turnover, solid offense and some lucky bounces on fumbles have put the Bears ahead as they look to improve to 9-3 on the season.

A big first-quarter fumble by Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch handed the Bears good field position, something that the offense characteristically took advantage of with a touchdown. Jay Cutler has been hot so far, completing 7-of-9 passes for 94 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Earl Bennett.

The Bears had a pair of big fumbles in the first quarter, but the team had the good fortune of falling on both balls, avoiding turnovers in both cases. One of those fumbles was on a big passing play to Brandon Marshall, who has four catches for 64 yards so far, but he managed to fall directly onto the ball.

Seahawks vs. Bears: Chicago hosts Seattle at Soldier Field

2012-12-02T16:14:42Z

The Bears can maintain their lead in the NFC North with a win over the Seahawks.

The Seattle Seahawks are a borderline playoff team and boast one of the strongest home-field advantages in football. But a break in the schedule for the Chicago Bears means that they'll get the Seahawks at Soldier Field, and Seattle has been significantly worse away from home this season. In six road games, the Seahawks are just 1-5, with that one win coming over the Carolina Panthers.

The Bears, meanwhile, righted the ship this past Sunday with a convincing victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The win, combined with the Green Bay Packers' loss to the New York Giants, means the Bears still hold a one-game lead over the Packers in the NFC North, though that could change with a Bears loss and a Packers win this Sunday.

Regardless, a win will keep the Bears in solid playoff position with just five games remaining in the season, but they'll have to do it with a team that was banged up in the win over Minnesota. Lance Louis is already out for the season, and Devin Hester, Lance Briggs and Matt Forte all have questionable statuses.

Sunday's game kicks off at 12 p.m. CT on FOX.