The Chicago Bulls look to extend their road winning streak to four games when they open a quick trek Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
The Bulls are also scheduled to visit the Boston Celtics and are 10-5 away from the United Center. They won for the fifth time in seven tries overall with Monday's 97-58 home demolition of the Atlanta Hawks as Carlos Boozer recorded a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Luol Deng netted 18 points and Joakim Noah posted nine and 16 rebounds in a winning cause.
"We were ready for this one," Noah said. "We had the right mindset, played with the edge and we rebounded the ball really well. Everyone came in and stepped up."
Chicago, which allowed just 20 points in the first half and was apparently reamed out by coach Tom Thibodeau in the morning shootaround, held the Hawks to 29.3 percent shooting and finished with 59-39 edge on the boards. It scored 18 points off 15 Atlanta turnovers and led by 44 at one point.
The Bulls reached other milestones in the lopsided win, setting franchise records for fewest points allowed in a game (58); fewest points allowed in a half (20); fewest points allowed in a quarter (tied, 5 in second quarter); lowest opponent field goal percentage in a half (.205); and fewest opponent assists in a quarter (tied, 0 in second quarter).
Sitting 1 1/2 games behind Indiana for the Central lead, the Bulls are 14-3 when holding opposing teams to under 90 points.
"This was very, very embarrassing. It's time to shake things up. There will be changes," Hawks coach Larry Drew said.
Toronto is back up north following its quick junket to Brooklyn and is coming off Tuesday's 113-106 setback to the Nets.
Kyle Lowry scored 21 points off the bench despite leaving in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. He returned in the fourth quarter, but played just under 15 minutes. Amir Johnson and Jose Calderon both scored 15 points for the Raptors, who have lost two straight and four of six games.
"They're just a good team. We let them get out and make some shots and get in transition," Lowry said. "They have two potential All-Stars in Joe (Johnson) and (Deron) Williams, they played to their potential tonight."
Lowry is expected to play Wednesday and guard Alan Anderson left the Brooklyn game with a chipped tooth. Anderson could be ready for tonight and reportedly needed dental work afterward.
The Raptors are 10-8 north of the border this season and lost all three meetings with Chicago last season. The Bulls have won four in a row and seven of the last eight matchups in this series.
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