After one half at Verizon Center, the Washington Wizards trail the Chicago Bulls 51-40. The Bulls, one of the best teams in the league, are coming off a frustrating last minute loss in Miami and attacked Washington right from the jump. They raced out to a ten-point lead after the first 12 minutes, paced by reigning MVP Derrick Rose who finished the half seven of 12 from the floor and led all scorers with 16 points. Kyle Korver also got hot for Chicago, hitting four three-pointers and adding 14 points. The Wizards cut a 13-point Bulls lead in half as the second quarter wound down, but Korver would strike again and help build the lead back up to 11 at the break.
Washington played Chicago fairly even in the second, after Chicago shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the first quarter. They have hit the glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds for some crucial second chance points. Facing off against Rose, John Wall leads the Wizards with 14 points but just one assist. Washington has knocked down their free throws to keep it relatively close, but will have to improve on their 32 percent mark from the field if they want to have a chance against one of the league's elite teams.
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