The Chicago Bulls are back home for a quick stop Monday night to host the Charlotte Bobcats at the United Center.
The Bulls had a three-game winning streak stopped with an 86-73 loss at Washington Saturday as Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich was held to seven points one game after exploding for 25 in a home win versus Golden State on Friday.
Bulls All-Star center Joakim Noah just missed a triple-double with nine points, 17 rebounds and a career high-tying 10 assists. Nate Robinson scored 19 points off the bench for the Bulls, who entered the game with a 6-1 mark in their last seven games.
"I thought our help was a step slow," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of the effort against the Wizards. "We didn't react, we didn't get in or get out. It's a compilation of things. Other than the first quarter, I didn't think we played up to our capability."
Chicago is 14-11 at home and will hit the road for six games, starting with Wednesday's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bulls All-Star forward Luol Deng (hamstring) has missed five straight games and is questionable for Monday's game. He is averaging 17.4 points and 6.4 rebounds this season. Chicago, of course, is anticipating the upcoming return of former NBA MVP Derrick Rose (knee surgery).
Meanwhile, the Bobcats will commence a five-game road trip Monday evening and won for the second time in the past 10 tries with Saturday's 102-101 decision over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the finale of a four-game homestand (1-3).
Gerald Henderson buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining in the game to help the Bobcats end a 16-game home losing streak. Kemba Walker tallied 25 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, while Henderson added 15 points for Charlotte, which claimed its first victory at Time Warner Cable Arena since Nov. 21 and shot a season-best .507 from the floor.
"I got the pass from Kemba and it was just a crazy shot," Henderson said of his 3-pointer. "It was a big weight off of our back. We were happy to get a win at home."
The Bobcats, who overcame a 29-11 deficit in the first quarter, were three more home losses from setting an NBA record set by the Dallas Mavericks during the 1993-94 season.
Walker has scored in double figures in 14 consecutive games and leads the Bobcats in scoring (17.9), assists (5.8) and steals (1.9). Ben Gordon scored 18 points in the rare home win over the Wolves and is averaging 13.8 ppg in his past 15 contests.
Charlotte will also visit San Antonio, Houston, Miami and Cleveland on its upcoming road swing and is 5-14 as the guest.
The Bobcats defeated the Bulls, 91-81, in the first meeting of the season on Dec. 31 in the Windy City, but Chicago is 20-10 all-time in this series.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.