Salmons, Noah lead Bulls past Bobcats

By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer Nov 8, 12:05 am EST

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

Salmons scored 27 points, Noah added a career-high 21 points and had 16 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Bobcats 93-90 on Saturday night for their third straight win.

“Since I’ve been in Chicago, I’ve been impressed with Jo,” said Salmons, who joined the Bulls in a trade last February. “He’s been one of those glue guys, one of those guys that works hard.”

The Bulls had a 16-0 run in the third and fourth quarters that turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 77-70. They hung on despite some shaky foul shooting, with Charlotte’s Flip Murray(notes) missing two 3-pointers from the top of the key in the closing seconds.

Boris Diaw(notes) led Charlotte with 20 points, but the Bobcats were outrebounded for the first time this season, 44-38. Besides watching his team give away a nine-point lead, coach Larry Brown made it clear he didn’t like what he saw from the officials, either.

“Boris went in for a layup, Gerald (Wallace) went in for a layup, we didn’t get anything out of that,” said Brown, who along with the organization was fined $60,000 after he lashed out at the replacement referees in the preseason.

“Flip went in for a layup, we didn’t get anything out of that. We couldn’t get into the bonus. It was hard. We were driving the ball and we were trying to get to the free-throw line. We had a hard time doing that.”

With Chicago up 92-87 with a minute left, the Bulls’ Luol Deng(notes) missed two free throws, and the Bobcats’ Tyson Chandler(notes) converted two to make it 92-90 with 21 seconds left. Salmons had a chance to make it a four-point game, but made just one of two free throws with 19.8 seconds left. However, the Bobcats couldn’t take advantage.

After a timeout, Murray missed a 3 from the top of the key but had a chance to redeem himself after Diaw grabbed the rebound. Instead, the second one hit the rim and a sprawled out Wallace knocked the ball out of bounds along the sideline with 3.3 seconds left, giving the Bulls the victory.

Salmons hit 9 of 16 shots, including two 3-pointers. Noah, meanwhile, shot 10 of 12 and reached double figures in rebounds for the fifth time while registering his third double-double this season for the short-handed Bulls.

Chicago has just 10 healthy players now that Tyrus Thomas(notes) is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken left forearm. He had surgery Saturday after injuring it a day earlier in a weight-training session.

Even so, the Bulls got enough to get by on Saturday, particularly from Noah. Now in his third year, he’s showing some post moves he didn’t have in the past, such as a hook shot, and some more maturity after having conflicts with former assistant Ron Adams and ex-Bull Ben Wallace(notes) as a rookie.

“I know I’m not going to score 21 points every night,” Noah said. “I think that I want to see consistently is my rebounding and my defensive effort. I feel like offensively, I’m just going to try to clean up the glass.”

They got 14 points from Deng after a slow start and 13 from Derrick Rose(notes). Kirk Hinrich(notes) scored six of his nine during the go-ahead run, and the Bulls won despite going 13 for 22 at the foul line.

The Bulls were down 70-61 late in the third when Salmons converted a layup on a 2-on-1 to start the go-ahead run. Hinrich buried a 3-pointer, a layup and a free throw to pull Chicago within one with 1:32 left, and Noah ended the quarter with a hook shot and tip-in to make it 73-70.

Brad Miller(notes) then started the fourth with a tip-in and Luol Deng connected from the top of the key to give the Bulls a seven point lead.

“We weren’t playing the right way,” Diaw said. “We had no movement. We were sloppy.”

NOTES: With Thomas is out, coach Vinny Del Negro said the Bulls are discussing whether to bring in another player. His injury could also create an opportunity for rookie James Johnson(notes). … Considering he was averaging 5.5 rebounds for his career entering the game, Gerald Wallace(notes) is as surprised as anyone that he’s leading the league. “When you can’t make a layup, you’ve got to find some way to help the team,” said Wallace, who came into the game shooting just 30.9 percent. … Bobcats F Derrick Brown(notes) and C DeSagana Diop(notes) were inactive.

Updated Nov 8, 12:05 am EST
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16 Comments

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  1. Cloud91
    16. Posted by Cloud91 Sun Nov 8 11:36pm EST

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    bulls is 3-0 at home(beat the SPURS,BUCKS.BOBCATS) and 1-2 on(beat CAVS. lost to CELTICS and HEAT the road....and remember guys rose still not playing 100% coz of injury and still we have tyrus...and james johnson still not showing his game...
  2. Chicago fan
    15. Posted by Chicago fan Sun Nov 8 8:40pm EST

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    Rudolf D, if we trade Hinrich, who's going to become our lockdown defender in crunchtime? We don't have anyone that can lockdown opposing scorers other than Kirk. He shut down Paul Pierce in the playoffs when we went small with Rose, Hinrich, Gordon, and Salmons, and Noah. Rose guarded Rondo, Salmons on Ray Allen, Hinrich on Paul Pierce, Gordon on Tony Allen (no idea how he got playing time), and Noah/Miller on Perkins. Hinrich shut Pierce down completely, forcing Boston to go to their 2nd option (because Garnett was out), Ray Allen. and Kevin Martin doesn't play D. So trading Kirk is not an option, because not only does he play ridiculously tough D, he can shoot the 3 and is a starting-caliber PG. He would have been the starter had the Bulls picked Beasley instead of Rose No. 1 in 2008.
  3. Rudolf D
    14. Posted by Rudolf D Sun Nov 8 4:04pm EST

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    Lebron or Wade would be a dream for Chicago, but the bulls can become a contender without them.

    Get Chris Bosh from free agency and make a trade involving Hinrich (although i love the guy), draft picks plus cash....in exchange for a guy like Kevin Martin (once he gets healthy). That would really fill the scoring hole left by BG.
  4. BMW
    13. Posted by BMW Sun Nov 8 12:35pm EST

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    Rose is playing well. The 2nd year is the most challenging for NBA players. By next season, he should be sensational if he remains healthy. He has made a lot of progress as a general and also getting to the basket. Bulls had a legitimate chance for a GREAT start until PF injury. I expect them to make the playoffs but exit again in the first round. If they can acquire a top star in free agency, they could be very good. I can't imagine WADE or LEBRON with this team. The potential would be scary. Jordan's shadow would forever diminish their accomplishments, but LeBron may NEVER have an opportunity to play with a guard like Rose unless he and WADE decide to play in N.Y. or N.J.
  5. <i>scottottersen</i>
    12. Posted by scottottersen Sun Nov 8 10:27am EST

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    Started a new site for Chicago sports fans...

    http://chicagosportsinterviews.com/
  6. Dadakoh
    11. Posted by Dadakoh Sun Nov 8 9:18am EST

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    primetime dude my comment came in all late LOL thanks for the heads up. i have never heard brainheaded im gonna use that. haha i love posting on here u were right though bro anyways bulls won. u guys think they got a chance against denver? the nuggets have lost 2 straight and in embarrassing fashion.
  7. jeffw
    10. Posted by jeffw Sun Nov 8 8:10am EST

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    yeah the bulls are playing good but Rose is overrated, he has to be the laziest point guard in the league, when he dosen't have the ball he just stands there, and when he does have it he dosen't penetrate enough.
  8. Randy H
    9. Posted by Randy H Sun Nov 8 8:01am EST

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    Brad Miller----pass of the night. Loved that he got a kick out of it.
  9. Dominos
    8. Posted by Dominos Sun Nov 8 5:47am EST

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    Brainheaded? Is that an insult? Sounds like a compliment to me.
  10. Jermal
    7. Posted by Jermal Sun Nov 8 2:00am EST

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    Rose needs to step his game up and score a little bit more, i know his a point guard, but he needs to drive the ball to the basket and try to go to the free throw line if his jumper his off. He should take a least 15 shots a game not 8, 10 or fewer shots a game.
  11. Primetime
    6. Posted by Primetime Sun Nov 8 12:58am EST

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    Dadakoh...obviously you are brainheaded. That comment was made at 2:28 PM EST, hours before tonight's game. however, yes, Noah will breakout this year if VDN keeps giving him consistent 30+ minutes a game.
  12. Rudolf D
    5. Posted by Rudolf D Sun Nov 8 12:56am EST

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    Beautiful Bulls.....sending a clear message: WHEN YOU GO ON THE ROAD TO CHICAGO, YOU ARE GOING TO WAR....

    PD: free-throw practice tonight, you don't wanna get me a heart-attack...
  13. Dadakoh
    4. Posted by Dadakoh Sun Nov 8 12:43am EST

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    um are you braindead aznmonkey they are 4-2. they beat the spurs, bucks, and bobcats at home (3-0) and won in cleveland and lost at boston and at miami. (1-2). my boy noah will be a breakout player this year. 12 reb a game i predict.
  14. C-Note
    3. Posted by C-Note Sat Nov 7 11:25pm EST

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    Man the bulls are winning some close ones.
  15. Charles
    2. Posted by Charles Sat Nov 7 11:05pm EST

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    3-0 NOW!!!
  16. Aznmonkey71
    1. Posted by Aznmonkey71 Sat Nov 7 2:28pm EST

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    The Chicago Bulls are only 2-0 at home. They aren't 3-0 yet. It's 2-0 Home and 1-2 Road.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Charlotte
B. Diaw Boris Diaw
8-14,  20 Pts
7 Rebs, 5 Assists
 Chicago
J. Noah Joakim Noah
10-12,  21 Pts
16 Rebs, 3 Assists

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