Tweet @SportandoBasket

NBA 03.02.2013, 11:00 Redazione Sportando - E. Carchia 9

Bulls beat Hawks 93-76 with 3 starters held out

Big win for Chicago

The injury-riddled Bulls played small ball to great effect Saturday when Luol Deng had 25 points and a season-high 14 rebounds in a 93-76 win over the host Hawks. Chicago (29-18) was without starting point guard Kirk Hinrich (right elbow), center Joakim Noah (right foot) and power forward Carlos Boozer (right hamstring), but all of their subs were spectacular. Taj Gibson, one night after playing all 48 minutes at forward in a tough loss in Brooklyn, had 19 points and a career-high 19 rebounds at center. New to the lineup, Jimmy Butler was good for 16 points and 10 rebounds at forward. Nate Robinson had 20 points, eight assists at three steals at point guard. He scored 12 points in the third quarter, when Chicago began the period with an 11-2 run after Atlanta led 44-43 at the half. Deng (45:45), Butler (45:37), Gibson (45:13) and Robinson (40.37) all played at least 40 minutes for the second night in a row. Deng tied his season high with four steals, Butler tied his season high with three, and Robinson added three thefts as well. When the Bulls beat the Hawks 97-58 in Chicago on Jan. 14, Atlanta (26-20) barely missed a franchise low for points. Saturday, they scored just 32 points after halftime. Atlanta's Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, but scored just three in the second half.

• Signings
• Rumors
• Injuries