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Hughes, Bulls nip Bucks to stay in playoff hunt

Sat 29th, March 2008

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Larry Hughes scored 19 points to lead the Chicago Bulls in a 114-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center.

Joakim Noah poured in 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Bulls, who snapped a two-game skid and sit 3 1/2 games behind idle Atlanta for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Andres Nocioni ended with 17 points and Luol Deng 16. Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon tallied 11 points each, and Tyrus Thomas had 10.

"We don't really need any instructions (about finishing the season hard)," Hughes said. "We understand our situation. You have to complete everything you do. Anything can happen but even if it doesn't, you want to have something positive to carry into next year."

Michael Redd scored a game-high 33 points for the Bucks, who have lost four in a row and 10 of 11. Charlie Villanueva totaled 26 points and nine boards. Yi Jianlian dropped 14 points and Maurice Williams 13.

Milwaukee was without the services of center Andrew Bogut, who sat out after undergoing nasal surgery.

A Noah finger roll and a Sefolosha three-pointer opened a 109-100 Chicago lead with 4:07 left in regulation.

The Bucks used seven unanswered points to close the gap to 112-109 on Redd's layup with about 30 ticks left.

On Chicago's ensuing possession, Simmons was forced to foul Hughes, who drained both shots to give the Bulls a 114-109 lead with 14.4 seconds remaining. The 2-of-2 performance all but sealed the win.

A Nocioni three-point play closed out a 9-2 Chicago run that contributed to the Bulls being ahead 31-22 after the first frame.

Chicago held a 67-54 lead at intermission.

A Villanueva tip-in sparked an 8-2 Milwaukee run that brought the Bucks as close as 14 points, 91-77.

However, a Hughes three put the Bulls on top 94-77 heading into the final 12 minutes of play.

Ramon Sessions' jumper and pair of free throws bookended a 19-2 Bucks run. The surge brought Milwaukee within striking distance, 100-96, right around the seven- minute mark.

"We did a better job defensively in the second half," Redd said. "We had a good period where they didn't score for a while. It was a better job in the second half by our team."

Game Notes

Chicago is 5-31 when giving up 100 points or more...The Bulls are 18-18 at home this season...The Bucks dropped their eighth straight road game and are a miserable 6-30 as the visitor in 2007-08...The Bulls have won six of the last seven meetings...Milwaukee is winless in its last five trips to the United Center.

Where the players come to play and STAY.