Nuggets welcome Bulls to Pepsi Center

(Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls continue a difficult seven-game road swing Sunday when they arrive in the Rocky Mountains to face the Denver Nuggets.

The Bulls got their first win of the trek on Friday in Oakland when Larry Hughes burned his old team for 26 points, getting the start in place of an injured Luol Deng as Chicago pulled out a 115-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Rookie Derrick Rose scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half and Drew Gooden notched a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who improved to 1-2 on the brutal swing.

Each member of Chicago's starting lineup finished in double figures as the Bulls shot 51.1 percent (45-of-88) from the floor, connected on 10-of-23 three-point attempts and were nearly perfect from the line making 15-of-16 tries.

Deng (strained left hamstring) is questionable for tonight's game while Rose (balky hip) is probable.

The Bulls will finish the trip with visits to Utah, San Antonio and Philadelphia.

Denver lost for just the second time with Chauncey Billups in the lineup Friday when Kobe Bryant scored 29 points to pace the Los Angeles Lakers during a 104-90 triumph over the Nuggets.

J.R. Smith and Nene led the way for the Nuggets with 18 points apiece. Billups added 15 points for Denver, which had a four-game winning streak broken.

It was a poor offensive night for Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but shot 5-of-19 from the field.

Home cooking has meant a lot in this series as the host has won four straight and seven of the last nine contests between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are 4-1 at the Pepsi Center this season.

Last updated: November 23, 2008 at 10:33 AM