Deng, Hinrich score 19 apiece as Chicago beats Philadelphia 94-88

By ANDREW SELIGMAN , Associated Press

Last update: November 14, 2009 - 9:53 PM

CHICAGO - Luol Deng and the slumping Kirk Hinrich each scored 19 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadelphia 76ers 94-88 on Saturday night.

Deng scored six during a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter that turned a four-point game into a 77-63 advantage, and the Bulls hung on after dropping two straight.

Derrick Rose, John Salmons, Brad Miller and Joakim Noah each added 14 points, and Chicago held on after Philadelphia pulled within five late in the game. Noah also grabbed 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double, while Deng chipped in with nine.

Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 24 points and Lou Williams scored 20, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Sixers' fifth loss in seven games.

With a 63-59 lead going into the fourth quarter, the Bulls quickly took control.

Rose's driving layup started the decisive run. Hinrich, coming off three straight 3-for-10 performances, followed with a floater and then buried a runner after a basket by Philadelphia's Marreese Speights. Miller added a layup, then Deng got going.

He hit two free throws and added back-to-back jumpers after a dunk by Samuel Dalembert, making it 77-63 with 7:39 left in the game.

The Sixers got within 90-85 when Rodney Carney buried a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left, but the Bulls came away with the win despite committing 21 turnovers. They didn't exactly solve their shooting problems, either, making 45 percent, but considering they ranked 28th entering the game and got off to a poor start, they'll take this.

Outscored 14-1 over the final 6 1/2 minutes of Wednesday's 99-89 loss at Toronto, the Bulls missed nine of their first 12 shots and watched as Philadelphia hit its first seven while building a 20-6 lead.

Chicago then woke up, answering with a 16-0 run that saw a driving Noah deliver a right-handed slam on Iguodala and Deng fake him on a transition dunk. Iguodala, however, buried a 33-footer at the buzzer to give the Sixers a 23-22 lead after Hinrich capped the spurt with a fadeaway jumper, and they were ahead 41-40 at the half.

NOTES: The Bulls open a six-game road trip Tuesday at Sacramento. They also visit the Lakers, Denver, Portland, Utah and Milwaukee before hosting Detroit on Dec. 2. ... Tied for 24th in rebounding entering the game, the Sixers weren't having much success on the offensive or defensive glass. "We're taking a back seat in the rebounding department at both ends and we've got to get better at it," coach Eddie Jordan said. "I don't know how. Let's see as the game goes along if we can be relentless enough, if not physical enough to rebound the ball."

Recent Timberwolves stories

Rockets come to town without Yao - November 14, 2009

Rockets come to town without Yao - The Rockets started the season 6-4 before Tuesday night's home loss to Phoenix. The Wolves are trying to break a 10-game losing skid. More