Tune in at 9:00 PM ET as the Bulls take on the Clippers. James Herbert will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Happy Saturday, people. Think the Clippers can win their fifth straight tonight? They've looked really good this season.
Bulls starters: Kirk Hinrich, Rip Hamilton, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah
Clippers starters: Chris Paul, Willie Green, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Getting close to tip-off here.
First possession, Boozer makes a midrange jumper over Griffin on the left baseline.
DeAdre Jordan tries to answer with a righty hook over Boozer in the post, no good.
Noah misses a a WILD lefty hook in the middle against Griffin. That thing didn't even hit the rim.
Griffin faces up against Noah and misses a 17 foot jumper on the right side.
That's what the Bulls want him to do, even if he's improved that shot.
A post entry pass from Boozer doesn't make its way to Noah, turnover.
Willie Green's three goes in and out, rebounded by Boozer.
Bulls up 2-0, almost two minutes into the game.
Boozer faces up against Griffin and he's short on his jumper on the left side. Rebounded by Jordan.
Caron Butler steps into a long two on the left wing, it's money. Tie game.
Boozer on the bloc again, this time he dishes off to a cutting Deng and Deng is fouled by Green.
9:44 left in the first, Bulls will inbound it from the sideline.
Boozer misses a left handed dunk. Bulls get the rebound, then it's deflected out of bounds. Bulls ball.
Boozer saw a lane, drove and couldn't quite finish.
Now we have a Bulls turnover.
Noah set an illegal screen near the baseline. He was actually out of bounds. Can't do that.
Paul and Griffin try to run a bit of a two man game, they turn it over.
Hamilton misses a short shot on the left baseline, no good. Deng can't put it back in, either.
Paul makes an 18 footer, top of the key.
Clips up 4-2, under nine minutes to go in the first quarter.
Hamilton steps into a midrange jumper on the left side. Patented Rip shot.
Jordan in the post against Boozer, he tries to turn to his right shoulder and take a hook shot, Boozer disrupts it.
Paul to Griffin alley-oop in transition.
Huge, huge one handed finish. Whoa.
Deng makes a midrange jumper at the end of the shot clock, we're tied at 6.
Butler faces up against Deng on the left side, steps back and takes a jumper. No good. Not a good look against a great defender.
Deng in the midpost against Paul, mismatch…but it doesn't matter. He misses the turnaround jumper. Rebounded by Griffin.
Paul misses a long jumper.
Almost halfway through the first and it's tied at six.
Paul with BEAUTIFUL spin and a score in transition.
Hinrich tries to find Noah near the basket, but his pass is off target, out of bounds. Fifth turnover for Chicago.
