(The Sports Xchange) – The San Antonio Spurs went to Chicago on Monday ranked as the NBA’s top defensive team, but the Bulls beat them at their own game.
Led by a stingy defence that held the Spurs to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls ended San Antonio’s five-game winning streak with a 92-89 win in their first game back from a four-game road trip.
“To hold that team to 16 fourth-quarter points was a great effort,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.
“They’re obviously a great team with great firepower. They are also one of the great defensive teams in the league. It was one of those nights where everyone who stepped on the floor contributed in a big way.”
Centre Pau Gasol notched his seventh double-double (18 points and 13 rebounds) to lead five Chicago players in double-figures scoring, but it was the Bulls’ stingy defence that ultimately won the game.
Gasol blocked a layup attempt by forward LaMarcus Aldridge with 1:06 left and the game tied 89-89, and then split two free throws at the other end of the floor with 51.2 seconds left to put Chicago ahead for good.
