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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls have experienced such a turnaround this season that their wins are now being rated. Jose Iglesias Jersey . According to some observers, the 102-90 victory over the hapless, short-handed Milwaukee Bucks didnt rate because the expected lopsided blowout didnt materialize. The Bulls, who spent much of the first two months of the season below .500, took issue with that assessment. "Just because theyre the worst team in the league doesnt mean . nothing, really," Taj Gibson said. "Its tough because youre playing against guys fighting for their jobs, fighting for their livelihoods. Theyre going to play hard." Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich had 17 points apiece to lead seven players in double figures, and the Bulls, despite some occasional lapses in the fourth quarter, cruised. Carlos Boozer and D.J. Augustin scored 14 points apiece. Gibson added 13, Mike Dunleavy 12 and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 13 rebounds. "A wins a win," Butler said. "Wins are hard to come by in this league. Every team has a roster full of NBA players; there really are no bad teams. You get a win, youre happy with that." The Bulls have won four straight and six of seven, and remained tied with the Toronto Raptors for third in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls (44-32) face Washington, a possible first-round opponent, on Saturday. "I love the balance of the team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We had seven guys in double figures again. The shot distribution was pretty even, and thats important for us. "I like the balance of our team. Each night it could be someone different." Brandon Knight had 22 points before fouling out with just over two minutes left for Milwaukee. Jeff Adrien added 21 points for the Bucks, who have dropped four straight overall and 12 straight on the road to fall to 14-62 overall. Milwaukee entered the game with just eight healthy players because of injuries and coach Larry Drew decided to play just seven of those until the final 22 seconds of the game. "I thought we did a good job fighting back in the second half," Knight said. "Playing hard. Not backing down. "Theyre a great team playing great basketball right now. Theyre a very solid defensive team. Theyre physical. Theyre everything youd want in a team." The Bulls lead was 27-15 after the first quarter and 51-35 at halftime. The Bucks rallied at the start of the second half and pulled within 63-53 midway through the third quarter. But they werent able to trim the deficit to single digits and the Bulls built their advantage back up to 82-62 entering the fourth quarter. The game appeared over, but the Bulls created some suspense by managing to score just three points in the first six minutes of the period to let Milwaukee pull within 85-77. Hinrich finally broke the drought when he hit a 3-pointer with 5:59 left to make it 88-77. "You have to give them credit," Thibodeau said. "I thought they played hard throughout the game. They never went away. Even when we got up 20, they kept battling back. "I think Larrys done a good job keeping them together. Theyve been hit with a lot of things, but theyre still together." NOTES: The Bulls waived rookie Erik Murphy on Thursday and there have been multiple reports saying they are interested in signing a veteran, possibly former Bull Ronnie Brewer. Murphy had been with the team all season, but only played a total of 62 minutes in 24 games. "It was done more so for roster flexibility," Thibodeau said. "I thought he did a great job for us, and I thought he had gotten significantly better." . Bucks C Larry Sanders, currently out with an injury, was suspended for five game on Friday for violating the NBA drug policy. Sanders said in a statement released by the team that he was penalized for using marijuana. "I think the most important thing is that he learns from his mistakes," Drew said. "Hopefully, he can put them behind him, get on the right track and stay on the right track." Justin Upton Jersey . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. Detroit Tigers Alex Avila Jersey . -- LaMarcus Aldridge returned to the Trail Blazers lineup, happy to know that things didnt go awry without him. http://www.baseballtigersproshop.com/fra...-tigers-jersey/ . Best has been bothered by concussion problems and hasnt played since Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco. After starting 5-0, Detroit has lost four of six, beginning with that game against the 49ers.SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres will miss $215 million man Clayton Kershaw in baseballs North American opener Sunday night. Theyll face pretty much the rest of the $235 million roster of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit atop baseballs payroll perch and the NL West. Catch the action live on TSN2, starting with Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt. Padres third baseman Chase Headley said his team has a "healthy dislike" of the Dodgers, who won the division last year after going on a 42-8 run that began with a victory in San Diego. That said, the Padres welcome the prime-time spotlight, rare for a team thats lost 91, 86 and 86 games the last three seasons and hasnt been to the playoffs since 2006. "I think itll be fun," said Headley, whose future is uncertain because he and the club failed for the second straight off-season to agree to a long-term contract. "Its just a good opportunity for the Padres. Being in this market, we dont get that opportunity a lot. Itll be exciting to be the one and only game on. Hopefully well go out and play the way we can and maybe some fans that wouldnt necessarily watch us will get to see were a pretty good team." Kershaw, who last fall won the NL Cy Young Award for the second time in three seasons, was scratched from Sunday nights start on Wednesday because of an inflamed muscle in his back. He landed on the disabled list Saturday for the first time in his career. The Dodgers will turn to left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0), who won the second of two games against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks in Sydney. The Dodgers came home leading the NL West at 2-0. The Padres, who have a relatively modest payroll of $90 million, the highest in their history, will counter with right-hander Andrew Cashner, who was 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA last year. "Its pretty neat with us being the only game in baseball on Sunday," Cashner said. "So thats a big honour for us and our city. Were looking forward to it." The big Texan, obtained in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in January 2012, has quickly ascended to the top of San Diegos rotation. Being tapped as the opening day starter by manager Bud Blaack "is huge for me, just the road Ive come, the injuries Ive had, just last year, learning a lot and coming around to the player I thought I could be," Cashner said. Denny McLain Jersey. "Its a big honour." In three starts against the Dodgers last year, Cashner lost by scores of 3-1, 2-1 and 1-0, while striking out 16 and not allowing a home run in 22 innings. "Hes got a power arm and tries to keep the ball down," said Adrian Gonzalez, who was with the Padres from 2006 until being traded to Boston after the 2010 season. "We beat him three times without a homer, so hopefully well beat him without a homer again." The Padres play in a pitchers park "and they always seem to keep coming up with more and more arms," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Cashner at the end of the year last year was filthy. Theyve got good arms, theyve got guys that play the game right and they play hard. Theyre tough because Bud always matches up with you right and left pretty good, and theyre getting more and more experience." Los Angeles season-changing, 42-8 surge in 2013 started with a win at Petco Park on June 22. The Dodgers salvaged the final two games of a four-game series. "It felt good to win those two games," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "We were definitely scuffling at that time and youre hoping that was the turn. But to go 42-8, starting with that, that was the last thing in any of our thoughts. "But it was good to see (Zack) Greinke throw the ball well, kind of kick things off and see him get healthy and in the form hes accustomed. Hanley (Ramirez) was playing; Yasiel (Puig) was up in the big leagues, so a combination of health and getting some guys hot at the right time. We knew we had the talent to do it; it was just a matter of executing and getting the job done on the field." The Padres think theyll be better this year, but already there are signs of trouble. Left fielder Carlos Quentin (sore left knee) and right-handed starter Josh Johnson (forearm) were placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. With Quentin going down, both rookie Tommy Medica and 35-year-old Xavier Nady made the squad. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '