CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 18 (UPI) -- Richard Hamilton and Joakim Noah combined to make 10-of-11 shots in the first half Wednesday, sending the Chicago Bulls to a 100-68 rout of Charlotte.
The Bulls inched closer to clinching the best record in the NBA and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, building a 15-point lead at intermission against the league's worst team. Charlotte has only five games remaining this season and has won only seven times.
Hamilton went 5-for-5 in the opening two quarters while Noah was 5-of-6 while the Bulls shot 54 percent as a team.
Hamilton finished with 20 points, John Lucas had 13 for the Bulls and Noah wound up with 12. Taj Gibson and Omer Asik combined for 27 Chicago rebounds.
The Bobcats made only 25 field goals, shooting 30 percent while going 1-of-8 from 3-point range. Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 16 points.
Chicago began the night with a 1 1/2-game lead over San Antonio for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a 2 1/2-game advantage over Miami for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have four games remaining.
