Gasol’s 46 points lift Bulls over Bucks

Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (No 16) shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half in Chicago. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-87. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

AFP/Chicago Spain’s Pau Gasol scored a career-high 46 points on Saturday to help the Chicago Bulls overcome the absence of Derrick Rose in a 95-87 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks. With former NBA Most Valuable Player Rose sidelined by a sore left knee, Gasol stepped it up a notch. He improved on his previous career-best of 44 points, achieved in 2006 when he played for Memphis, and also pulled down 18 rebounds. “He wasn’t going to let us lose tonight,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a good overall night,” said Gasol. “You start making the first couple of shots, your teammates start looking for you. I was able to find good spots, get in rhythm. “Give a lot of credit to my teammates that made a lot of great plays for me and looked for me a lot of times.” Kirk Hinrich added 16 points and Jimmy Butler contributed nine points, eight rebounds and 10 assists for Chicago, who had endured back-to-back defeats in their previous two games. The Bulls had connected on less than 40 percent of their shots from the floor in lacklustre losses to Utah and Washington, and they were little better in that department on Saturday, shooting a collective 39.8 percent. Joakim Noah’s offensive struggles were particularly evident as he finished with just two points. Thibodeau acknowledged before the game that the lack of offence was “bothersome and concerning” but on the night Gasol’s contribution was enough to deliver a victory. He scored the first seven points of the game and 20 in the first quarter as Chicago took a 29-19 lead. He had 40 points through three quarters, and finished by making 17 of his 30 attempts from the floor and 12 of his 13 free throws. “It was definitely a crucial game for us, to bounce back and snap that two-game skid we had,” Gasol said.  “It’s important to win at home and regain confidence and rhythm.” A three-pointer by Milwaukee guard O.J. Mayo pulled the Bucks within four early in the fourth quarter.  But the Bulls, who out-rebounded the Bucks 51-37, scored the next six points and led by at least eight points the rest of the game. Jackson shoulders blame for reeling Knicks NBA coaching great Phil Jackson, in his first full season as president of the New York Knicks, shouldered responsibility Saturday for the club’s dismal season. “This is a mea culpa,” Jackson said before his Knicks were routed 110-82 by the Charlotte Hornets—extending New York’s club-record losing streak to 15 games. New York fans are getting restive, taking out their frustrations with jeers of their own team and sporting paper bags on their heads at games to hide their shame. “I take responsibility for it,” Jackson said, adding that he didn’t think fans should address their ire at first-year coach Derek Fisher. “It’s not his fault,” Jackson said. “Obviously I didn’t do the right thing in picking the group of guys that were here.” On Saturday, the Knicks wee again without high-priced superstar Carmelo Anthony, who continues to rest a sore knee. Amare Stoudemire, also nursing a troublesome knee, was also absent. In a season of lows, the Kicks were especially awful on Saturday, trailing by as many as 45 points in the second half before trimming the deficit in the fourth quarter after Charlotte pulled their starting players. Quincy Acy was one bright spot for the Knicks, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Tim Hardaway jnr added 15 points and Shane Larkin chipped in 12.