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CHICAGO — Carlos Boozer scored 20 points, Derrick Rose and Luol Deng each added 16, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110-91 on Wednesday night.
Joakim Noah had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the first triple-double by a Chicago center in roughly 35 years, and the Bulls simply ran away with this one. The Central Division leaders built an 11-point halftime lead and broke it open in the third quarter, a nice send-off for the All-Star break.
Ronnie Brewer scored 15 points as all five Bulls starters scored in double figures. Reserves Kyle Korver (11 points) and Taj Gibson (nine points, 10 rebounds) provided a spark as Chicago handed Milwaukee its sixth loss in seven games.
Brandon Jennings scored 20 points to lead the Bucks, who never really had a chance in this one with Chicago shooting 54.4 percent from the field and dominating on the glass with a 49-29 rebounding edge.
Boozer hit 9 of his 12 shots.
Rose looked sharp again after saying the lower back pain that caused him to miss five recent games is gone. He put up a 23-point effort against Atlanta on Monday with another strong showing.
And then there was Noah. How good was he? Consider this: Not since Artis Gilmore had 35 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks against Atlanta on Dec. 20, 1977, had a Bulls center delivered a triple-double.
Noah fired up the crowd twice in the final minute of the third quarter.
First, he dunked on Beno Udrih for a three-point play. Then, after two free throws by Jennings, he buried a corner jumper with about a second left to make it 93-75, sending a roar through the arena.
Notes: The Bulls have won seven straight against Milwaukee. ... Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said veteran G Richard Hamilton "is doing a lot more" and is "taking on contact now," but his return date remains up in the air. Hamilton has been limited to 11 games this season because of thigh and groin problems. ... Backup PG C.J. Watson missed his second straight game because of a mild concussion. ... Milwaukee's Stephen Jackson did not travel with the team because of a sore right hamstring, and Drew Gooden missed his fourth straight game because of a sprained right wrist.
