NBA -- Bulls take on Bucks, eye fourth win in a row

CHICAGO -- For the first time in nearly a decade, the Chicago Bulls will take their road act without the recently-traded Luol Deng when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Currently 6th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 15-18 slate, the Bulls hope to extend their winning streak to four while the host Bucks, the worst team in the NBA record-wise at 7-27, will try to end a three-game slide.

Tip off is 7:30 pm Milwaukee time (9:30 am Saturday in Manila).

Still without the injured Derrick Rose (MCL tear) and now without the traded Deng, the Bulls will rely heavily on power forward Carlos Boozer for scoring. Boozer, who had been sidelined with a sore right knee, practiced Thursday and is expected to play against the Bucks.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, will rely on guards Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo, who leads team in scoring with 15.2 points and 13.5 points per game, respectively. (JZ)