08-06-2019, 12:47 AM
CHICAGO -- Theres just one game remaining in the regular season and the NBA playoffs begin on Saturday. The Chicago Bulls still dont know their first-round opponent, but thats fine with Joakim Noah. "Whatever happens, happens," Noah said after the Bulls 108-95 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday. "Our mentality is just getting ready for the next game, getting ready for Charlotte. Were going to focus on out next opponent and everything will take care of itself." Noah had 18 points and 10 rebounds and eight assists, Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points and the Bulls pulled away late. With one game left in the regular season, the Bulls are fourth in the Eastern Conference playoff race and looking at a first-round matchup with Brooklyn. To catch Toronto and finish third, the Bulls would need to win the season finale at Charlotte on Wednesday and have the Raptors lose at New York. "The important thing is for us to continue to strive for improvement (and) finish the season as strong as we can and go from there," Thibodeau said. Kyle OQuinn led Orlando with 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting, and Andrew Nicholson added 19. Rookie Victor Oladipo was limited to 10 points after scoring a career-high 35 points against the Bulls earlier in the season. "Hes still getting better on a daily basis," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said of OQuinn. "His challenge is going to be continuing to play every play. Hes done a good job of being in the right position the majority of the time. Now the expectation will be continued to be raised." Jimmer Fredette had 17 points for Chicago. With guard D.J. Augustin missing the game to attend the birth of a child, the Bulls rotation was a bit off in the first half. Fredette was the first player off the bench and he showed the rust of not playing much since being picked up at the beginning of March. The Bulls led throughout the first half, often by double figures, but the Magic hung around and pulled within 67-64 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. Dunleavy, though, hit a 3-pointer to stop Orlandos momentum. Soon after, Fredette capped the third-quarter scoring with a pair of free throws to make it 81-70 heading into the fourth. The Bulls quickly thwarted any hopes of a Magic comeback by opening the final quarter with a 13-7 to make it 94-77 with about seven minutes to go. Fredette had nine points on 4-for-6 shooting in the fourth. "I didnt know until I got here," Fredette said of his increased playing time. "I was able to step in and help the team get a win." With a win in the season finale, the Bulls would get to 49 victories, a feat few thought possible following the injury to Derrick Rose and trade of Luol Deng earlier in the season. "It feels great to be in this position right now, but were definitely not satisfied," Noah said. "We want more, we feel like we can do more. Its a group thats gone through so much adversity, to be in this position is definitely a blessing. But were not satisfied." NOTES: The Bulls completed their recent roster shake-up on Monday by signing C Greg Smith and waiving F Toko Shengelia. "Were excited that he is with us," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Smith. "When he was healthy, he played very well. We feel were fortunate to be able to pick him up." Smith had arthroscopic knee surgery in February and is still rehabbing. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 89 games for the Houston Rockets. Shengelia was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season for Marquis Teague. Last week, the Bulls signed Ronnie Brewer, Mike James and Lou Amundson to bring their roster to the maximum 15. . Orlando G Jameer Nelson missed his second straight game with a strained left groin. ... The Magic finished the year with a 4-37 road record, including 11 straight losses to end the season. Zaino Kanken Big Nero . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Zaino Fjallraven Kanken Grande . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. http://www.fjallravenkankenitalia.it/. 3 Ohio State. Amedeo Della Valle had 15 points, Marc Loving scored a career-high 13 and the bench provided 38 points as the Buckeyes sprinted past Nebraska 84-53 on Saturday. Zaino Fjallraven Kanken Big Rosa-Aria Blu 20L . The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tours season-ending tournament. Zaino Fjallraven Kanken Classic Rosa 16L . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.Canadas world junior team takes to the ice this morning for the first of three pre-competition games when they take on Finland. The game is currently delayed due to poor ice conditions. The teams are targeting an 11am et/8am pt puck drop. When the action resumes, you can catch it live on TSN and get in-game video highlights on TSN.ca and TSN Mobile. Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Zac Fucale, a 2013 draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, gets the call in net for Canada with Saginaw Spirit netminder Jake Paterson, who was on last years team, backing him up. Team Canada coach Brent Sutter still needs to cut three players from his 25-man roster (two defencemen and a forward), and these three exhibition games could prove critical as to which bubble players make it past the final cut. Injuries, of course, will also play a factor into Sutters decision. "Theyre not easy decisions, but the reality is weve got a couple-or-three guys banged up and were not exactly sure," said Sutter earlier this week. While Mooseheads star and Canadian alternate captain Jonathan Drouin has practiced with the team, hes not expected to play in Fridays matchup. Drouin was concussed in a game on Dec. 66 against the Quebec Remparts when he was hit from behind into the boards by Adam Erne.dddddddddddd. The Finns will provide a stiff test for captain Scott Laughton and the rest of Team Canada. The Finnish camp features six returning players from last years tournament, as well as 10 players already selected in the NHL Draft, including a pair of Nashville Predators goaltending prospects in Janne Juvonen and Juuse Saros, both taken in this past Junes draft. Just as Canada is lacking four of its five eligible players from the NHL (Minnesota Wild defenceman Mathew Dumba being the only of the quintet at the selection camp) the Finns are missing their two qualified players in Florida Panthers forward Alexsander Barkov and defenceman Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The player to watch on Finland might just be the son of a former NHL All-Star. Kasperi Kapanen, son of Sami Kapanen, is currently the top-ranked European skater for the 2014 NHL Draft. The KalPa forward is a highly regarded goal scorer with good hockey sense. After Fridays matchup, Canada next does battle with Sweden on Sunday before finishing up the exhibition schedule with a Monday game against Switzerland. 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