GAME THREAD: NBA: CHICAGO (2-9) at TORONTO (6-7)

[SportsTicker]

<h3>Lowly Bulls hope to avoid fourth straight loss at Raptors</h3>

<div class="pre">Chicago (2-9) at Toronto (6-7) 12:00 pm EST</div>

TORONTO (Ticker) -- A trendy preseason pick to represent theEastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season, the ChicagoBulls can't seem to get out of their own way.


The Bulls will look to break a three-game losing streak whenthey visit the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.


Chicago ranks last in the NBA in both field goal percentage and3-point field goal percentage, which has resulted in an offensethat averages less than 88 points per game - good for 28th outof 30 teams.


With an offense based around perimeter threats Kirk Hinrich andBen Gordon and a slew of slashing forwards, the Bulls do notseem to have a reliable scoring option in the low post, leadingto contested jump shots on nearly every possession. As aresult, no regular in Chicago's rotation is shooting better than45 percent from the floor.


The Bulls reached a new low on Saturday when they dropped an85-78 decision to the inept New York Knicks, shooting just 34percent (29-of-84) from the field and scoring just 12 points inthe second quarter.


The Raptors have fallen on hard times lately as well, losingthree of their last four games, including Saturday's 111-108setback at Cleveland. All-Star center Chris Bosh poured in 41points, but it was not enough to overcome a triple-double fromCavaliers star LeBron James.


Toronto starting point guard T.J. Ford has missed the past twogames with a stinger in his left arm and is questionable Sunday.

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">CHICAGO AT TORONTO - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


CHICAGO TORONTO

F Luol Deng F Jamario Moon
F Tyrus Thomas F Chris Bosh
C Ben Wallace C Andrea Bargnani
G Ben Gordon G Anthony Parker
G Kirk Hinrich G Jose Calderon

OFFICIALS: Joe Crawford
Phil Robinson
Ron Olesiak</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 5
TORONTO 8 8:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 10
TORONTO 14 6:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[such sweet thunder]

another ugly game. can't say I am surprised.</p>

[such sweet thunder]

Kirk Hinrich goes under a screen, springing Calderon free for a three. This is poor fundamental basektball by players who know better.</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 21
TORONTO 19 3:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 33
TORONTO 26 END, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 33 33
TORONTO 26 26 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

CHI - KIRK HINRICH 13, BEN GORDON 8, LUOL DENG
5
TOR - JAMARIO MOON 7, CHRIS BOSH 6, JOSE
CALDERON 4</div>

[Денг Гордон]

<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr class="yspsctbg">
<td height="18" class="ysptblhdr" colspan="13">Chicago</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysptblthbody1">
<td width="18%" height="18" align="left" class="yspdetailttl">Name</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">Min</td>
<td width="8%" class="yspdetailttl">FG</td>
<td width="8%" class="yspdetailttl">3Pt</td>
<td width="8%" class="yspdetailttl">FT</td>
<td width="8%" class="yspdetailttl">Off</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">Reb</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">Ast</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">TO</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">Stl</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">Blk</td>
<td width="6%" class="yspdetailttl">PF</td>
<td width="8%" class="yspdetailttl">Pts</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow1">
<td align="left"> L. Deng</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2-8</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>1-2</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow2">
<td align="left"> T. Thomas</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>1-2</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow1">
<td align="left"> B. Wallace</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>1-1</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow2">
<td align="left"> B. Gordon</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>3-5</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>2-2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow1">
<td align="left"> K. Hinrich</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>5-5</td>
<td>3-3</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow2">
<td align="left"> A. Nocioni</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>1-1</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>1-2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow1">
<td align="left"> J. Smith</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysprow2">
<td align="left"> T. Sefolosha</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0-0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysptblbdr3">
<td height="1" colspan="13"></td>
</tr>
<tr align="right" class="ysptblclbg5">
<td height="18" align="left">Totals</td>
<td>57</td>
<td>13-22</td>
<td>3-3</td>
<td>4-6</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 35
TORONTO 31 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[kukoc4ever]

Bulls playing with more energy. Looking crisp. Hitting some shots.</p>

Bosh is causing trouble for us though.</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 39
TORONTO 37 6:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[kukoc4ever]

This Raptors team is like the un-Bulls.</p>

</p>

They are of the proper size and they can shoot.</p>

[kukoc4ever]

Gordon frusterated at Thabo for not passing him the rock.</p>

[Денг Гордон]

And thats why Thabo will end up on the bench. A wide open Gordon, he doesn't see him, despite looking like he was looking straight at Gordon. Duhon was pointing to Gordon as well. What exactly was Thabo looking at?</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 43
TORONTO 41 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 44
TORONTO 50 HALFTIME</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 33 11 44
TORONTO 26 24 50 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

CHI - KIRK HINRICH 13, BEN GORDON 10, LUOL
DENG 10
TOR - CHRIS BOSH 10, JAMARIO MOON 9, JOSE
CALDERON 8</div>

[Denny Crane]

We're only down 6, and Deng is back. At least we'll get a little boost on the scoring end of the court.</p>

</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 48
TORONTO 52 9:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 54
TORONTO 59 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 62
TORONTO 68 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA CHICAGO 64
TORONTO 70 END, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 33 11 20 64
TORONTO 26 24 20 70 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

CHI - LUOL DENG 16, KIRK HINRICH 15, BEN
GORDON 12
TOR - JOSE CALDERON 14, CHRIS BOSH 14, JAMARIO
MOON 11</div>