Carlos Boozer scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls to a 95-89 win over the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.  

Luol Deng added 22 points and eight rebounds as the Bulls won their seventh straight at home and improved to an NBA-best 15-3 despite the absence of two starters and two key reserves. Richard Hamilton added a season-high 18 points for Chicago.  

The Bulls played their fourth straight game without reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose (sprained left big toe). They also were missing starting center Joakim Noah, a late scratch because of a left ankle sprain.  

Gerald Henderson Jr. led Charlotte with 22 points, but the Bobcats lost their fifth consecutive road game. They have dropped nine of 10 overall.

Byron Mullens added 17 points for Charlotte.  

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau likes to talk up his team’s depth and Saturday’s game gave him plenty to discuss.  

In addition to the missing starters, reserves Taj Gibson (left ankle sprain) and John Lucas III (left groin strain) also sat out. The Bulls had plenty of firepower left on the roster.  

Omer Asik started in place of Noah and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Veteran Mike James took Lucas’ place as the backup point guard and had seven points and a team-high nine assists, his most since Dec. 27, 2008.  

C.J. Watson started for Rose at point guard and had 11 points and nine assists. Watson is averaging 16.5 points and six assists in his last four games after missing nine games because of an elbow injury.  

Charlotte started undersized point guards D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker together in the backcourt for the fourth straight game, but the quick lineup struggled against Chicago’s defense, which leads the league in fewest points allowed per game.  

Walker scored just four points, Augustin had three and neither player was on the floor down the stretch.  

The bright spot for Charlotte was Henderson, who is averaging 21.8 points on 32-of-55 shooting in his last four games since moving from shooting guard to small forward in coach Paul Silas’ lineup.  

Chicago forced five Charlotte turnovers as the Bulls built a seven-point first-quarter lead, but the Bobcats hung close behind Mullens’ 10-point quarter.  

The Bobcats edged ahead in the second quarter against Chicago’s depleted second unit, but Deng led a late-quarter Bulls charge with nine points over the last 6:50 of the half.  

Deng’s putback dunk off a missed 3 by Kyle Korver capped an 11-2 Bulls run to end the half. Chicago led 50-43 at the break.  

The Bulls pushed their lead to 11 in third quarter as Boozer scored 15 points and Hamilton added 10, which offset the 13-point period from Henderson.  

NOTES: The Bulls have won 33 of their last 35 home games. . The Bulls are 7-0 at the United Center for the first time since 1996-97. . Bobcats forward D.J. White left with a bruised left knee during the second quarter and did not return.
 

CHICAGO
– Carlos Boozer scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls to a 95-89 win over the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.

Luol Deng added 22 points and eight rebounds as the Bulls won their seventh straight at home and improved to an NBA-best 15-3 despite the absence of two starters and two key reserves. Richard Hamilton added a season-high 18 points for Chicago.

The Bulls played their fourth straight game without reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose (sprained left big toe). They also were missing starting center Joakim Noah, a late scratch because of a left ankle sprain.

Gerald Henderson Jr. led Charlotte with 22 points, but the Bobcats lost their fifth consecutive road game. They have dropped nine of 10 overall.

Byron Mullens added 17 points for Charlotte.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau likes to talk up his team’s depth and Saturday’s game gave him plenty to discuss.

In addition to the missing starters, reserves Taj Gibson (left ankle sprain) and John Lucas III (left groin strain) also sat out. The Bulls had plenty of firepower left on the roster.

Omer Asik started in place of Noah and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Veteran Mike James took Lucas’ place as the backup point guard and had seven points and a team-high nine assists, his most since Dec. 27, 2008.

C.J. Watson started for Rose at point guard and had 11 points and nine assists. Watson is averaging 16.5 points and six assists in his last four games after missing nine games because of an elbow injury.

Charlotte started undersized point guards D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker together in the backcourt for the fourth straight game, but the quick lineup struggled against Chicago’s defense, which leads the league in fewest points allowed per game.

Walker scored just four points, Augustin had three and neither player was on the floor down the stretch.

The bright spot for Charlotte was Henderson, who is averaging 21.8 points on 32-of-55 shooting in his last four games since moving from shooting guard to small forward in coach Paul Silas’ lineup.

Chicago forced five Charlotte turnovers as the Bulls built a seven-point first-quarter lead, but the Bobcats hung close behind Mullens’ 10-point quarter.

The Bobcats edged ahead in the second quarter against Chicago’s depleted second unit, but Deng led a late-quarter Bulls charge with nine points over the last 6:50 of the half.

Deng’s putback dunk off a missed 3 by Kyle Korver capped an 11-2 Bulls run to end the half. Chicago led 50-43 at the break.

The Bulls pushed their lead to 11 in third quarter as Boozer scored 15 points and Hamilton added 10, which offset the 13-point period from Henderson.

NOTES: The Bulls have won 33 of their last 35 home games. . The Bulls are 7-0 at the United Center for the first time since 1996-97. . Bobcats forward D.J. White left with a bruised left knee during the second quarter and did not return.

The league-leading Chicago Bulls will look to extend their home court winning streak when they host the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at the Madhouse on Madison. Here’s a quick look at the game.

Game time: 8 p.m. EST.

TV: Local coverage in the Charlotte and Chicago areas (check your local listings), NBA League Pass (subscription required).

The Bobcats (3-12; 34-48, missed playoffs/10th place in East): Michael Jordan’s Bobcats are in full-on rebuilding mode, which is never pretty at the beginning. Gone are Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace and Kwame Brown; in are top 10 draft picks Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo, along with Corey Maggette, Reggie Williams (out with a torn meniscus) and Derrick Brown. It’s going to be a long, long season for the ‘Cats, who are totally focused on developing their young talent.

Last Season vs. Bulls: Believe it or not, the Bobcats were one of the league’s most successful teams against the Bulls last season – they split four games with Chicago, and even managed to get a win at the UC.

Statistics

PPG: Bobcats 91.1 (24); Bulls 96.2 (11).

FG%: Bobcats 43.4 (17); Bulls 45.8 (7).

Assists: Bobcats 20.9 (16); Bulls 22.3 (4).

PPG Allowed: Bobcats 101.7 (30); Bulls 85.1 (1).

FG% Allowed: Bobcats 45 (16); Bulls 42 (5).

Rebounds/offensive – Bobcats 41.9 (t16) / 10.9 (t17); Bulls 46 (1)/13.3 (2).

Key statistic: The Bulls are first in PPG allowed, the ‘Cats are dead last.

Probable starters

PG – D.J. Augustine (15.3 ppg, 7.2 apg, PER 17.7) vs. C.J. Watson (10.8 ppg, 4 apg, PER 23.5).

PG – Kemba Walker (11.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, PER 16.1) vs. Rip Hamilton (12.3 ppg, 3.4 apg, PER 14.8).

G – Gerald Henderson (15.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, PER 13.9) vs. Luol Deng (15.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, PER 15.9).

PF – Tyrus Thomas (6.9 ppg. 3.8 rpg, PER 7.3) vs. Carlos Boozer (14.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, PER 20.7).

C – Byron Mullens (12.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, PER 18.1) vs. Joakim Noah (7.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, PER 14.2).

Key Match-ups: Kemba Walker vs. Rip Hamilton. The former UConn star has averaged 17.3 ppg and 5 apg as a starter the past three games. Look for Luol Deng, who creates a real match-up problem for the ‘Cats, to have a good game.

The Write-Up: First off, Derrick Rose is listed as day to day, but is likely to miss his fourth straight game with a turf toe injury. Moving on, the Bobcats have lost their last four road games, averaging just 83.5 points on 40.5 shooting during the skid. That doesn’t bode well for a team traveling to the United Center, where the Bulls have racked up a perfect 6-0 record while holding opponents to just 71.8 points per game. Backup point guard C.J. Watson has stepped up big in Rose’s absence, averaging 18.3 ppg in three games since returning from an elbow injury. It’ll be interesting to see how the Bulls defend the Bobcats’ three-guard lineup.

Prediction: This is, on paper, a game the Bulls should easily win, so I’ll go with the Bulls, 95-73.

Notes: Taj Gibson was in a walking boot after spraining an ankle in Friday’s resounding win over the Cavs; his status for tonight’s game is unknown….. The Bulls have played more games (17) and more road games (11), and have more double digit victories (10), than any other team.

Sources: Sources: Chicago Bulls team page, Yahoo! Sports; Chicago Bulls Clubhouse, ESPN; Charlotte Bobcats team page, Yahoo! Sports; Charlotte Bobcats clubhouse, ESPN; NBA team statistics page, NBA.com; 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats Preview, Fox News; NBA Season Preview: Charlotte Bobcats, Pro Basketball Talk/NBC Sports; 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats Season Preview, HoopsWorld.com.

YCN featured sports contributor Steve Merritt is – for better or worse – a lifelong Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs fan. He’s followed the Bulls since 1969, when he tuned in after bedtime on a cheap dime store radio tucked under his pillow.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

TJ Ford is taking whatever talents he has left to Croatia, according to ESPN: “After playing in a charity game Sunday night in his native Houston organized by John Lucas and son John Lucas III from the Chicago Bulls, Ford told ESPN.com that he’s headed to Croatia to join a team that also employs former Charlotte Bobcats lottery pick Sean May. The deal includes an out to return to the NBA if the lockout ends. Ford, 28, likewise will be looking for a new NBA team when a new labor deal is finally hammered out after a frustrating end to his three seasons with the Pacers.”