Noah's triple-double leads Bulls past Bucks
Basketball Betting Lines
02/22/2012 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joakim Noah recorded his first career triple- double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, as the Chicago Bulls cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks, 110-91.
Carlos Boozer added 20 points and seven boards for the Bulls (27-8), who head into the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak. Derrick Rose and Ronnie Brewer tallied 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Brandon Jennings ended with 20 points and five assists for the Bucks (13-20), who head into the break on a two-game slide. Ersan Ilyasova and Jon Leuer had 15 and 14 points, respectively, in defeat.
Ahead by two, 23-21, with 3:11 left in the first quarter, the Bulls ripped off six straight points to build an eight-point cushion.
Chicago shot 55 percent from the field over the first 12 minutes and took a 30-23 margin into the second.
Holding a 57-51 edge late in the first half, the Bulls went on a 7-2 spurt. Boozer's jumper gave the home team a 64-53 lead at the break.
The Bulls extended their margin to 18 in the third stanza. A Taj Gibson layup and Noah's three-point play made it a 91-73 game with 38 seconds to go. It was a 93-75 contest heading to the fourth.
Chicago led by as many as 22 in the final period.
Game Notes
The Bulls have won seven straight and 10 of the past 13 meetings with the Bucks, who have lost four straight and 12 of their last 13 trips to the Second City...Chicago guards C.J. Watson (concussion) and Richard Hamilton (thigh) missed the game...The Bulls improved to 4-1 on a six-game homestand that will wrap up on February 28 against the Hornets...The Bucks were without forwards Drew Gooden (wrist/knee) and Tobias Harris (shoulder) and guard Stephen Jackson (hamstring)...The Bulls shot 54.4 percent from the field and went 6-of-13 from beyond the arc.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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