The Chicago Bulls are healthy and have a chance to build some continuity.
Consider that their big acquisition.
The Bulls stood pat at Thursday's trade deadline and geared up for the stretch run with all their pieces in place.
It hasn't been an easy season for the Bulls, who came in aiming high with the return of Derrick Rose from a second season-ending knee injury and the signing of All-Star Pau Gasol.
They're 13-3 when they have their projected starting five. But they've been banged up, with players shuffling in and out of the rotation.
>>Bulls Battle Pistons Tonight
(Chicago, IL) -- The Bulls open up the unofficial second half of the season tonight in Motown against the Detroit Pistons. Chicago currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference at 34-and-20, two-and-a-half games behind Toronto for the two-seed. The Pistons are two games out of the final playoff spot at 21-and-33.
>>NBA Trade Deadline Wrap Up
(Undated) -- It was a wild and crazy day with the NBA's trade deadline passing by. In total there were 11 trades and 37 players dealt on Thursday. The Phoenix Suns were in the middle of everything, shipping guard Goran Dragic to the Heat and Isaiah Thomas to Boston. Brandon Knight landed with Suns via the Bucks. The 76ers were back at it again sending Michael Carter-Williams to Milwaukee and rookie wing K.J. McDaniels to the Rockets. Kevin Garnett made his way back to the Timberwolves with Minnesota shipping Thad Young to the Nets.
Reggie Jackson finally got out of Oklahoma City and landed with the Pistons with Enes Kanter getting re-routed from the Jazz to the Thunder. OKC also acquired D.J. Augustin and Kyle Singler from the Pistons and Steve Novak from the Jazz. The Trail Blazers boosted their depth snagging Arron Afflalo in a trade with Nuggets including spare parts and a protected first round pick that could potentially turn into a second-round pick by 2018.
>>Westbrook Leads Thunder Past Mavs
(Oklahoma City, OK) -- Russell Westbrook put up 34 points and dished out 10 assists to guide the Thunder to a 104-89 win over the Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Serge Ibaka grabbed 22 rebounds to go along with 21 points while Kevin Durant scored just 12 on 4-of-14 shooting. The victory puts Oklahoma City in eighth place in the Western Conference after being on the outside of the playoff picture all season long. The Mavs shot just 36-percent from the field as they slipped to 36-and-20 on the year. Dirk Nowitzki [[ nuh-VIT-skee ]] scored 14 points and Tyson Chandler logged a 10 point, 13 rebound double-double in the loss.
NBA
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Los Angeles Clippers 119, San Antonio Spurs 115
