March 28, 2024

NBA Regional Capsules

BULLS 96, MAGIC 94

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Boozer had a season-high 31 points and 11 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 23 points and Chicago hung on to beat Orlando.

Taj Gibson added 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who played without center Joakim Noah. Chicago was outrebounded 37-34 in Noah’s absence but exploited an injury-plagued Magic front court, outscoring them 42-32 in the paint.

Jameer Nelson missed a leaning jumper in the closing seconds that would have tied it, sending Orlando to its seventh straight loss overall and fifth in a row at home.

Nelson returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore hip and scored a season-high 32 points. Nik Vucevic finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Arron Afflalo added 19 points for the Magic.

JAZZ 106, TIMBERWOLVES 84

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored 17 points, Enes Kanter had 15 and Utah beat Minnesota to snap a three-game losing streak.

Paul Millsap started 7 of 7 for Utah and finished with 14 points, and Jamaal Tinsley had 12 on 6-of-8 shooting.

Tinsley started in place Mo Williams, who learned earlier in the day he will be out six weeks after opting for surgery on his right thumb.

The game marked the return of Andrei Kirilenko, who played 10 seasons for the Jazz before being allowed to leave via free agency two years ago. He hit his first three shots but finished with just 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Alexey Shved and Kevin Love led Minnesota (14-14) with 13 apiece and Love added 10 rebounds but neither shot well.