Like Edgar in accounting who ends up with a lampshade on his head at the office holiday party, the Bulls had a little too much fun last December.
After their typically slow start, the Bulls gorged and sated themselves with a 14-3 month that catapulted them on their way to a 49-victory season.
The calendar turned Saturday night at the United Center, and the Bulls would gladly take a repeat.
They kick-started their campaign to regain respectability with a 111-95 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, for their first back-to-back triumphs this season. The Bulls shot a season-best 54.3 percent in posting a season high for points.
Eliminate some ridiculous turnovers and another rough outing by Kirk Hinrich, who finished with six of the 23 miscues, and the Bulls looked very much like themselves.
Ben Gordon posted the first 30-point effort by a Bull this season, sparking a decisive 16-2 third-quarter run by hitting three straight three-pointers and turning the final one into the rare four-point play after getting fouled by Jason Richardson.
Gordon scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter.
Luol Deng came out aggressive early and looked to attack the rim late, finishing with 29 points.
And Ben Wallace posted his first double-double this season with 10 points and 19 rebounds. Wallace also added five steals and four blocks in one of those active performances that remind fans why the Bulls signed him in the first place.
“We dug ourselves a hole, and we got nobody to blame but ourselves,” Wallace said before the game. “Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you in this league. We just got to start playing smart basketball.”
Andres Nocioni added 17 points off the bench for the Bulls, who led for the final 20 minutes 45 seconds.
The Bulls looked intent on building early momentum from Tuesday night’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
They put together a 29-16 lead by getting defensive stops and then quick shots in transition. Wallace, in particular, was active, blocking Gerald Wallace’s shot to cause a 24-second violation.
Deng drained 7 of 10 first-quarter shots for 15 points, consistently sprinting out and getting his preferred mid-range jumpers from the wing.
But then the Bulls, as they have so often this season, followed solid play with lapses.
They caught the turnover bug in the second quarter, coughing up the ball 10 times. And the Bobcats took advantage, scoring 19 points off the mistakes.
The Bulls committed four turnovers during the Bobcats’ 15-2 run that tied the game 31-31, with Chris Duhon and Nocioni each tallying two. The Bulls shot 63.2 percent in the first half but led just 58-57 because of their turnovers. Deng, Nocioni and Hinrich each had three of the Bulls’ 14 first-half turnovers.
The Bulls also lost Joakim Noah to a sprained left ankle after the rookie’s forgettable first-quarter stint.
This season’s December will be more challenging. Last season the Bulls played 12 of 17 games at home, including a franchise-record eight straight. This season the Bulls play nine of 16 at home, and the quality of opponent is high.
“I’m just happy we’re getting into a regular NBA routine now, not having three days off and stuff like that,” coach Scott Skiles said. “This whole month, we play and we practice. I’m anxious to settle into the season and see if we can get something going.”
The Bulls certainly did Saturday night.
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
