Orlando Magic

Chicago Bulls edge Orlando Magic 102-99

Before tipoff, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said even coaches couldn't draw many conclusions from the results of Sunday afternoon's game between the Chicago Bulls and the Magic at Amway Center — not with Magic superstar Dwight Howard serving a one-game suspension.

Maybe Van Gundy will reconsider.

Even with Howard not playing, the Bulls needed a magnificent performance by Derrick Rose to beat the Magic 102-99.

Rose scored a game-high 39 points and constantly hurt the Magic with his lightning-fast drives to the hoop.

Orlando's Ryan Anderson, starting in Howard's place, scored a career-high 28 points and collected 10 rebounds.

Anderson hit a pair of free throws with 1:42 to put the Magic ahead 96-95.

But the Bulls came back by hitting seven of their next eight foul shots.

Jameer Nelson swished a 3-pointer that would have tied the game at the end of regulation, but replays confirmed that Nelson released the ball just after time expired.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-bulls-game-0411-20110410,0,1873979.story


Orlando vs. Chicago

The Chicago Bulls have clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed, but first-year coach Tom Thibodeau isn't planning on resting his stars.

Not when they have a chance to finish with the NBA's best record and earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Bulls appear to have a good chance of adding to their win total Sunday when they visit a short-handed Orlando Magic team that will be without Dwight Howard.

Chicago (59-20) secured the East's best record Friday with a 93-82 win over Cleveland, its sixth straight victory and 18th in 20 games. It's the first time the Bulls captured the East's top seed since 1997-98, the most recent of their six NBA championships with Michael Jordan.

"Last year we qualified on the last day and now we are the No. 1 seed," Joakim Noah said.

"It's good to be the No. 1 seed, but at the end of the day we understand that there is a bigger picture," Noah added. "We're staying focused. It's definitely an achievement and we're excited about it."

Led by MVP front-runner Derrick Rose, Chicago is trying to catch West-best San Antonio for the NBA's top record, and home-court advantage if it should advance to the NBA Finals.

"You want to put as many things going in your favor as possible," Thibodeau said. "It doesn't guarantee anything, but that's how you have to approach it."

The Bulls appear to be catching a break by facing a Magic team that will be without Howard.

Stan Van Gundy had recently voiced his displeasure with the media essentially crowning Rose the MVP, but his choice for the award won't get an opportunity to impress voters Sunday.

Howard will serve an automatic one-game suspension for picking up his 18th technical foul in Wednesday's 111-102 overtime victory over Charlotte. Quentin Richardson is also suspended for two games for shoving Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson in the face.

Howard received his latest technical after referee Bennett Salvatore called a 10-second violation before the five-time All-Star center attempted a free throw late in the second quarter. Howard then tossed the ball away from the officials, and Salvatore immediately gave him a technical.

"I don't see a lot of people getting called for it," Howard said. "I was really upset about it."

Howard has previously given the Bulls trouble inside. He had a season high-tying 40 points and 15 rebounds in Chicago on Jan. 28, but the Bulls still pulled out a 99-90 victory.

Chicago has won the last two games against Orlando (50-29) after losing the first meeting of the season 107-78 on Dec. 1, in Carlos Boozer's Bulls debut.

Boozer had one of his best games of the season Friday, finishing with 24 points on 12 of 18 shooting and 11 rebounds. That helped offset an off night by Rose, who finished with 11 points, his second-lowest output of the season.

Rose also hasn't enjoyed as much success against Orlando this year, averaging 20.3 points on 37.0 percent shooting.

Although the Magic, who have already locked up the East's fourth seed, will be without Howard and Richardson, they received an encouraging performance from Gilbert Arenas on Friday.

Arenas started for just the second time since being acquired by Orlando on Dec. 18, and finished with 25 points on 9 of 14 shooting in 45 minutes to help the Magic secure their fourth consecutive 50-win season. Arenas, who had combined for 17 points on 4 of 28 shooting in his previous four games, scored 30 in Chicago on Nov .13, while playing for Washington.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/preview/NBA_20110410_CHI@ORL/bullsmagic-preview

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