Bulls C Noah likely out for season

But this team under Hoiberg isn’t the combative unit from the previous years, with Thibodeau losing his “magical” touch last season. While his value was surely eroded by his slippage over the last two seasons, there might have been teams interested in rolling the dice, thinking that a change of scenery and a better system fit would help revive the quality of his play.

Nowitzki scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the second half.

Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris, left, drives against Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, in Chicago.

Kyrie Irving led the scoring for Cleveland with 23 points, while LeBron James added 19 in the rout as the Rockets, usually so reliant on James Harden struggled as Harden had a tough night finding his range.

“With Bobby, his minutes have been up and down with not being in the rotation early and then taking advantage of minutes when a couple of guys were out, he’ll be back in that role again”, said Hoiberg.

“We have played better when the challenge has been bigger”, Gasol said. “But yeah, we competed”.

Portis was strong in an increased role in the final two weeks of December, but he tailed off recently in fewer minutes, averaging just 2.5 points and shooting 5-of-20 in the past six games. “If we’re up throughout the game we got to find ways to maintain the lead and play that way”. “I’m sorry it happened to him”. “That’s as good of a performance as I’ve seen”, Hoiberg told reporters. It’s physical, and you’ve got to prepare for a mental and physical disposition. Dallas was routed 108-89 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Wednesday’s opener of a three-game road trip as coach Rick Carlisle opted to rest his starting five – center Zaza Pachulia with a sore Achilles and healthy starters Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams.

The Mavericks in general, and Wesley Matthews in particularly, did a bang-up job defending Jimmy Butler. Bulls C Pau Gasol slumped to an average of 11.7 points during the three-game slide.2.

“That was a team thing”, Matthews said of the defense performed against Butler.

Bulls: Rose returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday night in a win over Philadelphia…. We just kind of tried to outlast them. Can they come out and set the tone and put the Bulls on their heels from the start?

“He’s been working hard with our developmental people”, Carlisle said.