Thomas, Miller lift Bulls over Wizards
CHICAGO — Tyrus Thomas scored 19 points, Brad Miller added 18 and the Chicago Bulls overcame a poor start to beat the Washington Wizards 93-70 on Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams.
The Wizards announced All-Star Antawn Jamison will likely 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 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.
Miller provided a big spark, ending the first quarter with a long jumper and 3-pointer shortly after he checked in, and finished with seven assists and six rebounds. Thomas scored 12 points in the second quarter as Chicago 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 Chicago (6-2), while John Salmons scored 14 points and Taj Gibson finished with 13.
The Wizards (4-4) got a solid effort from Andray Blatche (14 points) but little from their two healthy stars. Arenas scored 15 points on 3-of-12 shooting and Butler went 2 of 9 for six points.
With a 48-46 lead, Gibson buried an 18-footer just under 5 minutes into the third quarter to start the decisive run. Noah followed with a hook shot and layup, and Salmons capped the burst with a fastbreak layup that made it 65-46 with 2:25 left.
The Bulls open Thursday against San Antonio, and Rose expects to be ready. He had been hoping to play in this game.
Sidelined since the first preseason game by an inflamed tendon behind his right ankle, Rose practiced on Thursday but coach Vinny Del Negro decided to take a cautious approach with the reigning Rookie of the Year.
The Wizards will have to wait a little longer on Jamison.
He dislocated his right shoulder against Cleveland last week, another blow for a franchise that's been hit hard by injuries the past three seasons. Although Jamison was healthy last season, Arenas and Brendan Haywood barely played and the Wizards limped to a 19-63 mark.
NOTES: With Rose and Hinrich out, 38-year-old Lindsey Hunter started at point guard and missed all six shots. ... The Bulls were also missing G Jannero Pargo (lower back). ... The Wizards open Tuesday at Dallas.
Source: The Associated Press
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