Trail Blazers-Bulls Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers received a big lift their last time out, as Brandon Roy returned to the lineup to spark them offensively.

Roy and the Trail Blazers look for another strong offensive performance Monday, as they try to win three straight for the first time in more than five weeks in a matchup with the scuffling Chicago Bulls.

After missing four games with a hamstring injury, Roy returned Saturday and finished with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in Portland's 113-100 win over Golden State. Blazers coach Nate McMillan had planned to ease Roy back in, but with the game on the line, couldn't keep his star on the bench.

Roy played about 6 minutes in each of the first three quarters before playing every minute of the fourth. Roy, averaging a team-high 22.8 points, scored nine in the final period.

"I was really pleased with Brandon's performance after the layoff," McMillan said. "I said earlier that we would only play him 20 to 25 minutes, but as the game wore on he said he felt better and wanted to play more. We gave him the ball down the stretch and he helped us close the game out."

Roy's return clearly inspired Portland (22-14), which went 2-2 in his absence against reigning division winners Boston, New Orleans, Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Blazers averaged 84.5 points in those games, compared to 99.7 points with Roy in the lineup this season.

Roy now tries to lead Portland, two games back of Northwest Division-leading Denver, to its first three-game winning streak since it reeled off a season-high six in a row Nov. 24-Dec. 3.

The Blazers had no trouble beating the Bulls in their first meeting of the season, scoring a season-high 62 first-half points en route to a 116-74 win -- their most lopsided of the season.

Roy led Portland with 20 points in that game, and is averaging 24.3 points during his team's three-game winning streak against Chicago.

The Bulls (16-21), who conclude a five-game homestand Monday, were hoping to climb in the Eastern Conference standings by taking advantage of a soft stretch of schedule. They've been unable to do so, however.

Chicago, which opened its homestand with games against Minnesota, Sacramento and Washington, lost to Oklahoma City 109-98 in overtime on Saturday to fall to 2-2 during this home stretch.

Chicago had just 16 assists and turned the ball over 16 times against the Thunder.

"We did not share the basketball the way need to," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Their effort was better. That is not acceptable."

Chicago has had little success on the offensive end lately, as it's been held under 100 points in each of its last six games. The Bulls have not scored fewer than 100 points in seven consecutive games since doing it eight straight times from Feb. 23-March 9, 2005.

Top overall pick Derrick Rose had 16 points and six assists Saturday. He's averaging 15.5 points and 7.0 assists in four games since managing a career-low three points and two assists in a 117-92 loss to Cleveland on Jan. 2.

Rose didn't play well in his first game against Portland either, finishing with six points on 1-for-8 shooting with one assist.