Despite being without two of their best players, Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose, the Bulls were able to win the first of a 7 game road trip late Monday night beating the LA Clippers 105-89 in southern California.
The Bulls improve their record to 8-3 and improve to 6-0 on the road in the early going of the 2014-15 NBA season.
Jimmy Butler had 22 points while playing 44 minutes, Mike Dunleavy with his dad in attendance, contributed with 19.
In total, 6 players finished in double digits for the Bulls. Joakim Noah scored 11 points but added 16 rebounds and had 6 assists.
The Bulls were down by as much as 14 in the first half but cut that deficit to two at half and the big play was when Jamal Crawford has the ball stolen from him by Butler, he scored on a long jumper was fouled and made the free throw.
The Bulls outscored LA 31-14 in the 3rd quarter which was key in aiding them to a win. Meanwhile, in the fourth, the Bulls lead was as high as 18 then the Clippers cut the Bulls lead to 7 with about 4 minutes to go in regulation but the Bulls were able to halt the Clippers momentum when Dunleavy hit two straight 3-pointers and the Bulls never looked back.
The Bulls have two days off before they head up the coast to play the Sacramento Kings who are 6-4 in the early going.
The Bulls will be looking for revenge vs. the Kings after losing there last season 99-70. Not many teams can win games without not one but two of their best players and not just win but win in convincing fashion.
Bulls fans should be concerned when they see that Derrick Rose has missed about half of the team’s games but hopefully he can be 100% or close to it when the stakes are at its highest.
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