Bulls-Warriors Preview

The Chicago Bulls haven't won in the Bay Area since Michael Jordan was still in uniform for the team.

The Bulls will try to change that when they continue their seven-game road trip on Friday against the Golden State Warriors.

Chicago, which has had plenty of trouble on its annual West Coast road trips, last beat the Warriors at Oracle Arena on Jan. 30, 1998, Jordan's last year with the Bulls and the season of their last NBA championship.

The Warriors have won seven straight at home against the Bulls (28-22), though the teams have split the season series every year since 2001-02.

Both Chicago and Golden State (23-27) have played much better at home than on the road. The Bulls are 2-3 on their current trip after losing 86-77 to Sacramento on Thursday night, while the Warriors just wrapped up a six-game road trip with a 2-4 record, falling 121-93 to Minnesota on Wednesday.

Golden State plays four of its next five at home, where it has earned 17 of its 23 total victories. The Warriors are just 6-19 on the road.

The Bulls, who finish their trip on Sunday at Phoenix, are only 8-16 away from Chicago.

"The team hasn't been home since Jan. 27, it's wearing the team down," said Bulls forward Luol Deng, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds in Thursday's loss. "It's just a road trip. We've still got to go out there and get it done and finish the trip."

The Bulls shot a season-low 33.3 percent against the Kings and had just two players score in double figures.

Ben Gordon, Chicago's leading scorer, missed all eight of his shots in the first half and finished 3-for-16 with seven points -- 14 below his season average.

"Ben had one of those nights that he usually doesn't have," said Sacramento's Kevin Martin.

Without Baron Davis and Monta Ellis as starters at guard, Golden State was forced to use its league-leading 27th different lineup and the Warriors fell behind by 20 points in the first half against the Timberwolves.

"We thought the road trip was over and forgot to play the game," Warriors coach Don Nelson said.

Ellis, who left Monday's 113-98 win over Indiana with a left knee contusion, played 16 minutes on Wednesday, but scored only six points.

Davis, who's averaging a team-leading 20.7 points and 8.7 assists, is expected back against the Bulls.

"I think (Baron Davis) will play the next game," Nelson said. "We could've used him in some spot duty maybe, but I thought it would be better to wait so I wouldn't lose him for the next game as well."

The teams play again Feb. 28 in Chicago.