Bulls end preseason with win
By The ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO – Tyrus Thomas scored 19 points, Brad Miller added 18, and the Bulls overcame a poor start to beat the Washington Wizards, 93-70, on Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams.
The Bulls were without point guards Derrick Rose (ankle) and Kirk Hinrich (left elbow), yet managed to pull this one out despite missing 16 of their first 18 shots.
“It is great for us,” Thomas said. “We have to do that just to make a statement, period, preseason or not, just to let people know this is what we plan on doing every night.”
Miller provided a big spark, ending the first quarter with a long jumper and three-pointer shortly after he checked in, and finished with seven assists and six rebounds. Thomas scored 12 points in the second quarter as the Bulls grabbed a 41-39 lead, and the Bulls broke it open with a 17-0 run in the third.
Joakim Noah added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls (6-2), while John Salmons scored 14 points and Taj Gibson finished with 13.
“We are deeper, more versatile,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We have continuity that needs to be built. That will come when we get our whole group together.”
The Wizards announced All-Star Antawn Jamison likely will miss the first eight to 13 games of the season because of his ailing shoulder, then watched their other two stars, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, struggle in an ugly loss to a short-handed team.
The Wizards (4-4) got a solid effort from Andray Blatche (14 points) but little from Arenas, who scored 15 points and Butler (6).
The Bulls open Thursday against San Antonio, and Rose expects to be ready.
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