TURNING POINTS
Having returned home after a nine-day, four-game trip out West and to Boston, the Bobcats were hoping to get off to a fast start on their homecourt with Derrick Rose sidelined with lower back issues. Instead, it was the Bulls who jumped out to a 30-16 lead after the first quarter, led by 10 points from Luol Deng and six from Carlos Boozer. Reggie Williams scored six in the quarter and Boris Diaw added four more to try and keep things close, but Charlotte's 31.8 percent ( 7 of 22) shooting from the field and 0 of 3 start from 3-point range put them in an early hole as Chicago hit on 52.0 percent (13 of 25) of its field goals and 60.0 percent (3 of 5) of their treys.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Charlotte struggled to find its offense for most of the night, finishing the game shooting 32.9 percent (25 of 76) from the field and 12.5 percent (1 of 8) from long range. Chicago connected on 43.3 percent (39 of 90) of its field goal attempts and 40.0 percent (6 of 15) of its 3-pointers… The Bobcats finished with 16 turnovers to the Bulls 10, but it was the production each team got off those miscues that mattered most. Charlotte turned the 10 Bulls turnovers into 10 points, while Chicago nearly tripled that output, converting the Bobcats 16 turnovers into 27 points… Four Bulls players - Joakim Noah (17), Carlos Boozer (16), Luol Deng (12) and John Lucas (11) - scored in double digits, while Derrick Brown (10) was the only Bobcat to do so with 1:30 left in the contest.

BOBCATS PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Bismack Biyombo might not have scored in double digits, but he did finish with eight points and 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards. He was also efficient from the field, connecting on 3-of-5 shots and added and assist, a steal and a block for good measure.

BOBCATS TOP RESERVE
Derrick Brown ran his number of double-digit scoring games to eight in Charlotte's last 10 contests with his 10-point performance in 20 minutes off the bench. He's now averaging 11.4 points and shooting 54.7 percent (47 of 86) from the field during his string of solid play.

BULLS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Tough not to give the nod to Noah on this one. He dominated the paint with 17 points and 14 rebounds, including four offensive, and handed out three assists.

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM
"I think he’s really learning the game and understanding the game a lot more. He sees how he fits and he’s really using his athleticism in a controlled manner. He knows when he’s supposed to drive to the hoop and when he’s supposed to shoot his jumper. They’re fouling him, he’s rebounding the ball and it’s just coming to him."
- Bobcats Head Coach Paul Silas on Derrick Brown

"He’s getting there. He got 10 rebounds tonight, which was good, but there’s still a long way. He has to learn the game and that takes time, but with him being able to play now I think it’s going to come quicker than if he was sitting on the bench."
- Bobcats Head Coach Paul Silas on Bismack Biyombo

"We’ve got to win games. It’s kind of simple now. It’s starting to be kind of contagious and it’s frustrating for everybody, especially fans that come and support us. We’ve got to find a way."
- Bobcats Forward Derrick Brown

GAME NOTES
The loss to the Bulls was Charlotte's 13th-straight overall, tying the franchise mark set from January 11, 2006 - February 1, 2006… Maggette returned after missing 19 games with a hamstring strain and finished with four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes as a reserve… Head Coach Paul Silas says he expects to start Maggette on Saturday and play him at least 15 minutes… D.J. Augustin (toe) and Gerald Henderson (hamstring) were inactive for the Bobcats.

NEXT UP
Charlotte will have to have a short memory as it tips off at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers. It will be the first Hardwood Classics night at Time Warner Cable Arena, and the Bobcats will be wearing Carolina Cougars jerseys, while the Clippers will don old L.A. Stars jerseys. Join us on bobcats.com for the live chat, whether you're at home or here at the arena. You can also watch the game on SportSouth or listen on WFNZ.