The Chicago Bulls hope to close out a six-game road trip on an even mark when they visit the Orlando Magic Sunday at Amway Center.
The Bulls ended a three-game losing streak with Saturday's 107-72 drubbing of the New Orleans Pelicans and lucked out when Anthony Davis left the game after just 12 minutes with a shoulder contusion.
Davis landed hard on his right shoulder when his hands slipped off the rim following an alley-oop dunk. He remained in the game for another minute before being subbed out late in the first half. He did not return, but was diagnosed with a bruise after X-rays came back negative.
Chicago took advantage and received 20 points from both Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol. Gasol also grabbed 15 rebounds for his NBA-leading 32nd double-double. Tony Snell stepped up with 19 points off the bench and Jimmy Butler scored 18 to help the Bulls improve to 18-9 on the road.
The Central-leading Bulls had a 63-36 scoring advantage in the second and third quarters, and held the listless Pelicans to 16 in the fourth.
"I thought our guys did a good job of breaking the defense down and then making the extra pass. That's something that we've been working on," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
The Bulls are averaging 104.2 ppg on this road trip (2-3) and will host Sacramento and Cleveland next. The Cavaliers are only a half-game behind Chicago in the Central standings.
Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (toe) is questionable Sunday.
The Magic look to build on their recent 103-97 overtime win versus the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night.
Tobias Harris scored a career-best 34 points on 14-of-18 shooting and Nikola Vucevic ended with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Victor Oladipo had a double- double of 12 points and 11 boards for the Magic, who made 51.8 percent from the floor, scored 31 points in the third quarter and had a 12-6 edge in OT.
It was the debut of interim coach James Borrego.
"He was really demanding of us in the huddle," said Harris. "He wanted us to get back in the game by making stops."
The Magic used a 15-0 run to erase an 11-point deficit early in the fourth quarter and snapped a 10-game losing streak in Borrego's coaching debut. He took over on Thursday when Jacque Vaughn was fired.
Orlando is 12-5 when scoring 100 points, which it has accomplished in two straight and three of the last five games. It is 4-32 when posting fewer than 100 points.
After hosting the Bulls, Orlando will head for Washington to face the Wizards Monday at the Verizon Center. The Magic ended a five-game home losing streak with their recent triumph over LA.
The Magic have a 10-22 mark against the East (3-11 at home) and are 6-17 overall in central Florida.
Orlando and Chicago have split two games this season - both in the Windy City - and will meet again April 8 at Amway Center. Orlando is only 3-12 in the past 15 games in this series and winless in the previous seven at home.
[SportsNetwork.com]
