Here’s a snapshot look at the season series between the Bulls and Bucks, who will meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Nov. 5 at Milwaukee — Bulls 95, Bucks 86: Derrick Rose returned from missing two games with sprained ankles and finished with 13 points, seven assists and four turnovers. Pau Gasol’s 22 points and 14 rebounds and Taj Gibson’s 23 points and 10 rebounds were the double-double machines that powered the victory.
“I didn’t show up for the fourth (quarter),” Rose said, laughing, of two late turnovers. “Of course (my ankles) weren’t 100 percent, but I felt like we needed this win. I really couldn’t get to the hole as much as I wanted to. I didn’t have any fast-break points, but I was still able to affect the game and draw people in with double-teams to help my teammates.”
Jan. 10 at United Center — Bulls 95, Bucks 87: Playing without Rose and Mike Dunleavy, Gasol took over, scoring a career-high 46 points with 18 rebounds and three assists.
“Pau was not going to let us lose,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He willed us.”
Gasol became the first player in four years to post such numbers and first Bull since Michael Jordan did it on March 28, 1990.
Kirk Hinrich added 16 points and three assists, while Jimmy Butler had a career-high 10 assists.
Feb. 23 at United Center — Bulls 87, Bucks 71: In his last game before tearing his right meniscus and sitting for 20 contests, Rose missed 12 of 13 shots for eight points and committed three turnovers with eight assists. The Bulls grabbed a season-high 62 rebounds to overcome 19 turnovers and win for the sixth time in seven games. The regular lineup improved to 15-4 and the Bulls got big bench efforts from Tony Snell, with 20 points, and Nikola Mirotic, with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
April 1 at Milwaukee — Bucks 95, Bulls 91: The Bucks snapped a six-game overall losing streak to the Bulls and nine-game home losing streak in the series with an inspired, physical effort that featured a 48-40 rebounding edge. The Bulls were hurt by the Bucks’ 23 second-chance points and their own 22 turnovers and 13 missed free throws.
“Whooped our ass on the boards to tell you the truth,” Jimmy Butler said. “And it’s not the bigs’ fault. The guards didn’t get in there and help. That can’t happen. We have to correct it.”
The Bulls played without Rose and lost Kirk Hinrich to a third-quarter knee injury.
