With Tim Thomas still out East, Jerome James still injured and John Salmons and Brad Miller in street clothes, the Bulls dressed eight players Friday night at the United Center.
“Seven-and-a-half,” cracked Lindsey Hunter, in a nod to his 38 years.
Short-handed but scrappy, the Bulls posted an impressive 116-99 victory over the high-flying Nuggets, who played the second half without Kenyon Martin.
Martin’s back spasms must have flared anew inside the Nuggets’ locker room when he watched Joakim Noah take a sweet bounce pass from Luol Deng and slam home an exclamation point that capped a 10-0 run and snapped an 87-87 tie. All with Derrick Rose on the bench.
Everybody contributed. Ben Gordon scored a season-high 37, Tyrus Thomas (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Luol Deng (22, 12) posted double-doubles and Noah finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Bulls’ victory, coupled with Milwaukee’s loss to Cleveland, left the Bulls half a game behind the Bucks for the Eastern Conference’s eighth playoff spot.
“We have resilient guys,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “I like the direction we’re going and the mind-set. I’m happy the way we stayed together after a not very good first quarter.”
As for Rose sitting late …
“I liked Kirk’s demeanor,” Del Negro said. “He guarded Chauncey [Billups] well and stabilized us, got us in our sets a little better.”
Salmons and Miller watched Friday morning’s shootaround at the Berto Center, passed their physicals Friday afternoon at the United Center and sat waiting in their uniforms before tipoff when word came Sacramento hadn’t done physicals on Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden.
Thus, the players weren’t eligible.
Likewise, Larry Hughes didn’t play in the Knicks’ blowout of Toronto because Thomas is taking his allowed 48 hours to report and is scheduled for his physical Saturday.
Del Negro confirmed James’ ruptured right Achilles’ tendon has the center in a cast and could prevent him from joining the Bulls. Insurance is expected to cover James’ contract. Afterthought Anthony Roberson was in street clothes.
Del Negro said he wouldn’t have started Miller or Salmons after just one shootaround but definitely would have played them if allowed.
“It would’ve been difficult for some of the things we want to use,” Del Negro said. “But just to have two more bodies out there to help. … But the game is scheduled, so you just have to go play hard.”
After falling behind by 10 early, the Bulls did that, closing the first half with an 18-7 run with Rose on the bench. Gordon scored nine in the stretch as the Bulls sank six straight shots and forced a 54-54 tie at halftime.
Behind a huge, 15-point third quarter from Gordon, the Bulls actually pushed their lead to 11 during the third quarter.
By Sunday’s game in Indianapolis, Salmons and Miller definitely will be available and Thomas could be. Del Negro said, barring weather problems, Thomas will practice Saturday and travel to Indiana.
Expect more scrappiness — and for Hunter to find his other half.
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Dressing 8 is enough
How did the undermanned Bulls beat a good Nuggets team?
37: Points from Ben Gordon
31-34: From the free-throw line
40+: Minutes for Luol Deng (45:33), Tyrus Thomas (44:34), Gordon (40:21)
1:07: Even Lindsey Hunter got playing time, albeit in mop-up at game’s end
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
