Boozer's Bulls stomp hapless Hawks

Carlos Boozer finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls set a franchise record for fewest points allowed with a 97-58 rout of the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

Luol Deng scored 18 points, while Joakim Noah added nine points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who have won two of their past three games.

Atlanta's 20-point first half was just one point shy of the NBA record for fewest points in a half. The Los Angeles Clippers scored just 19 points in 1999.

Mike Scott scored 10 points for the Hawks, who were held to a franchise-record low five points in the second quarter en route to their sixth loss in their past seven contests.

Atlanta led 13-12 with 6:37 left in the first quarter after Kyle Korver knocked down 2-of-3 at the free throw line, but the Hawks went the next 10 minutes without a field goal, allowing the Bulls to build a sizeable lead.

Chicago closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run to grab an 11-point lead before Atlanta went the first six-plus minutes of the second quarter without a basket.

The Bulls extended their lead to 36-15 just past the midpoint of the frame before Al Horford finally halted the drought with a tip-in basket at the 5:15 mark.

The Hawks managed just one more field goal in the second, allowing Chicago to take a huge 48-20 lead into the break.

Atlanta never threatened in the second half, as the Bulls cruised to victory.

(China Daily 01/16/2013 page22)