The Bulls have won a season-high three straight games at the United Center and will look to avenge perhaps their worst loss of the year when they take on Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at home. Coverage begins at 6:30 with Bulls Pregame Live, hosted by Mark Schanowski and Kendall Gill.
Having lost two of its last three at home, Chicago entered its Dec. 31 matchup with the Bobcats expecting a win. Charlotte had lost 18 straight games, spanning longer than a month, and just two of their seven wins had come on the road.
But the Bulls would wind up shooting 35 percent from the field, committing 11 turnovers and shooting 61 percent from the free throw line in an embarrassing 91-81 loss. Walker went for 18 points and Gerald Henderson added 16 of his own, but the game was more indicative of the Bulls' tendency to disappear offensively at times, and hit rock bottom before the calendar turned to 2013.
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The Bulls would bounce back after that loss, winning seven of their next nine and pushing themselves to the top of the Central Division. Yet inconsistency has continued to plague Tom Thibodeau's group, and again the team will have to rebound from an ugly loss -- an 86-73 loss in Washington -- to maintain their lead atop the division.
The Bulls are 13-3 following a loss this season, and with the Bobcats entering tonight having lost eight of their last 10, it's a good bet that the Bulls won't be looking past the Bobcats as they look to get back on track.
While Luol Deng (hamstring) may miss his sixth straight game, All-Star reserve Joakim Noah is making the NBA coaches who voted him in look good. In the two games since he was named to his first All-Star game, Noah has averaged 11.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Saturday he missed a triple-double by one assist, and he'll look to rebound after being held to two points and four rebounds in the Charlotte loss earlier in the season.
Along with Bobcats owner Michael Jordan making his annual trip back to Chicago for the game, there are also a handful of other Bulls-Bobcats connections for those making their return to the United Center: Shooting guard Ben Gordon, power forward Tyrus Thomas, assistant coach Rick Brunson and scout Dickie Simpkins.
See if the Bulls can make it four straight at the United Center when they take on the Bobcats tonight on Comcast SportsNet. And make sure to stay up-to-date with all the happenings on social media by checking out Bulls Pulse.