Bulls Keep Winning as Streak Hits Seven

The words came out of Kirk Hinrich’s mouth almost matter-of-factly, words that no member of the Chicago Bulls would have dared utter for the better part of the last decade.

“We’re a good team,” Hinrich said, and there was no disputing him after the Bulls ran their winning streak to seven games Monday with an 88-86 victory over the reeling New York Knicks at New York.

Ben Gordon scored on a driving eight-footer with one-tenth of a second left for the game-winning points, a basket that prompted Coach Scott Skiles to leap into the arms of Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry.

And after the Knicks botched their last attempt and the final buzzer sounded, the smiles adorning the Bulls were a stark contrast to the long-faced frowns draping the Knicks.

“In this stretch we’re just finding ways to win. Last year we were finding ways to lose,” Hinrich said, “Hopefully, that’s the sign of a good team.”

Seven straight wins represents the longest winning streak for Chicago since the 1997-98 team won 13 in a row.

Luol Deng led Chicago with 19 points, Hinrich had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Andres Nocioni came off the bench to add 13 points and 11 rebounds.

San Antonio 101, Washington 73 -- Devin Brown scored 24 points, Tony Parker had 23 and the Spurs shut down the Wizards’ top scorers at San Antonio in ending Washington’s seven-game winning streak.

San Antonio jumped out to a 21-2 lead, and the Wizards were not able to get any closer than 13 points in their first loss of 2005. The offensive output was a season low for Washington, which had scored 100 or more points in its last 10 games.

Toronto 100, Minnesota 91 -- Donyell Marshall made six three-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Raptors at Minneapolis.

Marshall, the Timberwolves’ first-round draft choice in 1994, scored 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors held on for their first win in Minnesota in franchise history.

Philadelphia 95, New Orleans 91 -- Kenny Thomas had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Allen Iverson scored 29 and the 76ers nearly wasted a 25-point lead in the fourth quarter at Philadelphia.

The Hornets played without leading scorer Baron Davis, who bruised his right ankle in Sunday’s loss to Toronto. Lee Nailon led New Orleans with 23 points.

New Jersey 85, Atlanta 84 -- Jason Kidd scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half at Atlanta and the Nets ended a four-game losing streak overall and five-game streak on the road.

Held to four points in the first half on two-for-eight shooting, Kidd found his scoring touch when he made a three-pointer with 9:15 left in the third quarter. He scored 11 points in the period.

Golden State 107, Denver 97 -- Jason Richardson did everything in his first game back from injury, scoring a career-high 42 points and matching his career best with eight assists to lead the Warriors at Oakland.

Memphis 99, Houston 80 -- Stromile Swift scored 18 points and Jason Williams had 16 at Memphis, Tenn., to lead the Grizzlies to their ninth win in 10 games.

Milwaukee 99, Charlotte 92 -- Michael Redd scored 27 points at Charlotte, N.C., to help the Bucks end their four-game losing streak.