Bulls

LOS ANGELES – Pau Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds in his season debut, and Kobe Bryant scored 21 points while passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Lakers’ career scoring chart in Los Angeles’ 108-93 victory against the Bulls on Thursday night.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – John Salmons got a warm welcome in his first trip to Sacramento since he was traded to the Bulls.

CHICAGO – Step right up! Step right up!

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

TORONTO – The Bulls didn’t need to watch a replay to see how they lost this one. A 6-minute scoreless drought in the fourth quarter put them in a hole no buzzer-beater could undo.

TORONTO – Chris Bosh had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Jose Calderon added 18 points to help the Toronto Raptors beat the Bulls, 99-89, on Wednesday night.

CHICAGO – Bulls players danced at halfcourt as a United Center crowd prepared to erupt Tuesday night.

CHICAGO – Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro expressed confidence in veteran guard Kirk Hinrich despite a poor start to the season on offense.

CHICAGO – Chauncey Billups hit the go-ahead free throw with six-tenths of a second left, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Bulls, 90-89, on Tuesday night after a potential winning jumper by Brad Miller was overturned after a replay review.

CHICAGO – It really wasn’t too long ago that Joakim Noah was a rookie clashing with teammates and coaches. Now, John Salmons calls him a “glue guy.”

DEERFIELD – Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas broke his left forearm during a weight training session at practice Friday and will have surgery Saturday. He could miss four to six weeks.

CLEVELAND – For a split second, LeBron James appeared to be on his way to bailing out the Cleveland Cavaliers once more.

CLEVELAND – For a split second, LeBron James appeared to be on his way to bailing out the Cleveland Cavaliers once more.

CHICAGO – Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas missed Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after he left a morning practice early because of flu-like symptoms.

CHICAGO – Bulls forward Luol Deng surveyed the locker room at halftime Tuesday in search of a spark.

CHICAGO – Luol Deng scored 24 points while grabbing a career-high 20 rebounds, and the Bulls rallied from 18 down to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 83-81, on Tuesday night.

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade reached a scoring milestone in the third quarter. In the fourth, he turned to his teammates for points.

BOSTON – Kevin Garnett was an impressed spectator while he still was on the court.

By TOM MUSICK

CHICAGO – Bulls point guard Derrick Rose did not need a crystal ball to know how he would feel by the end of Thursday’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

CHICAGO – Derrick Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Bulls to an impressive 92-85, season-opening victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at the United Center.

CHICAGO – Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said he feels more comfortable heading into his second season.

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.