Noah Has Triple-Double In Bulls' Win Over Hawks
CHICAGO (AP) — Joakim Noah scored 19 points as part of a triple-double, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-85 on Tuesday night.
Noah added 16 rebounds and 11 assists, and Taj Gibson had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Blues, who had six players score in double figures. That helped Chicago win its fourth straight against the Hawks and sixth in a row at home versus Atlanta.
The Hawks have lost a season-high four straight overall.
Noah had his fourth career triple-double and first since Feb. 28, 2013, against Philadelphia. He completed this one with an assist on Gibson's basket with 9:59 left in the game.
Chicago (26-25) won for the third time in four games and pulled a half-game in front of Atlanta (25-25) in the Eastern Conference.
After trailing by 27 during the second quarter, the Hawks mounted a rally. Atlanta cut its deficit to eight with 8:47 left in the fourth on Mike Scott's 3-pointer, but Chicago answered with the next six points.
The Bulls were without Carlos Boozer for the third straight game because of a left calf strain, and he was replaced in the starting lineup by Gibson.
Noah helped Chicago overcome Boozer's absence, as the Bulls outrebounded the Hawks 57-28.
Noah, who was presented his All-Star jersey before the game by Bulls general manager Gar Forman, had six points, six rebounds and six assists during the opening quarter.
He ended the first half with seven points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists for the Bulls, who led 58-39.
Coming off a 79-76 loss to Memphis, in which the Hawks held the Grizzlies to an NBA-record low one free throw, Atlanta's offense woke up too late. The Hawks shot 43.8 for the game after making 40 percent in the first half.
All-star forward Paul Millsap had 15 for the Hawks but his streak of four games with at least 10 rebounds was snapped as he had two. Lou Williams added 13 points, and Jeff Teague had 12.
Kyle Korver extended his NBA record streak of at least one 3-pointer to 119 games with a shot 15 seconds into the second quarter. Korver hasn't gone without one since Nov. 2, 2012, against Houston.
That was the lone highlight for Atlanta, which entered the night second in the Eastern Conference with 102.1 points per game. The Hawks were held in check by the Bulls, who came in allowing an average of 92.8 points.
Coming off a 3-3 road trip, the Bulls got off to a fast start. They took a 26-15 lead with 1:54 left in the first on Noah's dunk and ended the quarter leading 33-17.
NOTES: Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said that Derrick Rose will "most likely not" practice with the team this season. Rose was ruled out for the season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee on Nov. 22. . The Hawks signed Cartier Martin to a second 10-day contract. Martin also played six games with the Bulls earlier this season. . Both teams have one game remaining before the All-Star break. ... Teague's brother, Marquis, was traded by the Bulls to Brooklyn on Jan. 21 for forward Tornike Shengelia. . Atlanta is 9-12 without Al Horford, who is out for the season because of an injured right pectoral muscle.
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