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CHICAGO -- Every NBA team wants to enter the All-Star break on a positive note and get some rest. The Chicago Bulls were able to do just that by winning their third straight. Taj Gibson scored 16 points and Carlos Boozer returned from an injury to add 15 in Chicagos 92-76 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. The Bulls (27-25) moved two games above .500 for the first time since they were 6-4 on Nov. 21. They have won four of five. "Were happy, but were not satisfied. Were hungry," said Joakim Noah, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double. Paul Pierce led Brooklyn with 15 points. The Nets are 24-27, going 14-6 since Jan. 1. "I think everybody needs a break right now," Pierce said. "Everybodys played a lot of games. Every team in the league has played over 50 games. I wish the break was a little bit longer, especially for us older guys. "But it is what it is and guys can go home or do whatever theyre going do over the weekend and recharge their bodies and get ready for a second-half run." The Nets pulled within three on Andrei Kirilenkos 3-pointer with 6:29 left. D.J. Augustin answered with a 3-pointer to start a 9-0 Chicago run. "Weve got to get to the point where were playing better defence, especially when Kevin (Garnett) comes out the game," Pierce said. "Thats seems to be one of our glaring weaknesses right now. We can sustain an acceptable level of defence when hes in the game, but hes not going to be able to play 48 minutes a night, so we have to have guys ready to come in and sustain the type of intensity he brings to help this team win." The Bulls shot 50 per cent to the Nets 38.8 per cent. Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler each had 14 points for the Bulls, who are 15-7 since Jan. 1. "Were playing very well," said Boozer, who missed the last three games because of a strained left calf. "Its good to have a chance to have a break and get away and come back ready for the finish." Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Boozer was better than expected in his return. "A little winded," Thibodeau said. "Once he got a second wind he was very, very good." The Nets Joe Johnson and Butler were called for technical fouls and Johnson for an offensive foul after they exchanged words and had to be separated by their teammates with 5:57 left in the third quarter. Johnson elbowed Butler on the play, and Butler was restrained by his teammates before Johnson poked Butlers face. "I dont say too much, so if Im mad, you must have really done something to get underneath my skin," Butler said. "He poked me in the head then backed backwards. I dont think he wanted any of that. I dont play to fight, but come on, man, just play basketball." Deron Williams added 13 points for the Nets, Johnson had 11, and Shaun Livingston 10. Brooklyn cut the lead to 56-53 on Pierces free throws with 7:59 left in the third quarter. The Bulls extended the lead to 62-53 after baskets by Noah and Boozer and two free throws by Kirk Hinrich. The Bulls are 2-0 against the Nets this season. Chicago won 95-78 on the road on Christmas Day. The Bulls have won four straight against the Nets, who have dropped 13 of their last 16 regular-season games at the United Center. NOTES: Thibodeau said Gibsons minutes will remain similar to how much he was playing in Boozers absence. Gibson has averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds in eight starts. "For us to achieve what we want to achieve, Carlos has to play," Thibodeau said. "He has a big role on this team." ... Nets guard Marquis Teague was acquired from the Bulls on Jan. 21. "Hes been great," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "Hes done everything that weve asked him to do. Hes only 20, so (were looking) for him to continue working and when hes out there on the floor to get better." 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Cheap Hornets Jerseys China .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives.DENVER (6-1) at NEW ENGLAND (6-2)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Broncos by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — Denver 4-3, New England 4-4SERIES RECORD — Broncos lead 28-20LAST MEETING — Broncos beat Patriots 26-16, AFC championship game, Jan. 19, 2014LAST WEEK — Broncos beat Chargers 35-21; Patriots beat Bears 51-23AP PRO32 RANKING — Broncos No. 1, Patriots No. 3BRONCOS OFFENSE — OVERALL (6), RUSH (21), PASS (3).BRONCOS Defence — OVERALL (4), RUSH (1), PASS (17).PATRIOTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (10), RUSH (17), PASS (10).PATRIOTS Defence — OVERALL (12), RUSH (25), PASS (2).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — First game in NFL history matching quarterbacks with more than 150 regular-season wins. Patriots QB Tom Brady is 10-5 against Broncos QB Peyton Manning, 8-3 in regular season. ... Teams meet for fourth straight regular season, with Patriots winning previous three games. Broncos beat Patriots in AFC championship game last January, 26-16. ... New England staged its biggest comeback last Nov. 24 with 34-31 OT victory after trailing Denver 24-0 at halftime. ... Denver leads NFL with 32 points per game, Patriots third with 29.8 ... Manning tied for longest streak in NFL history with 13 games of two or more TD passes. Can tie Johnny Unitas for third-longest streak with one TD pass at 47 games. ... RB Ronnie Hillman rushed for at least 100 yards in two of last three games. ... WR Demaryius Thomas has 34 receptionss for 626 yards, five TDs in last four games.dddddddddddd ...LB Von Miller is second in NFL with nine sacks, DE DeMarcus Ware tied for fifth with seven. ... Broncos have fourth-ranked defence in NFL, best against run. ... WR Emmanuel Sanders caught nine passes for 120 yards and career-best three TDs in last game. ... Julius Thomas tied for NFL lead with nine TDs, needs one to become first TE in Denver history with 10 in consecutive seasons. ... Brady going for 155th win in 200th regular-season start, will pass Mannings 136 wins in first 200 starts as most in NFL. ... At home, Brady is 87-13 as starter. ... Patriots seek 34th consecutive regular-season win at home against AFC opponent. ... Brady coming off one of best games of career with 30 completions in 35 attempts for 354 yards, five TDs, no INTs and 148.4 rating. In last four games, all wins, he has 14 TD passes and no INTs. ... WR Brandon LaFell had 11 catches vs. Chicago and has TD in four of past five games. TE Rob Gronkowski had nine catches for 149 yards, three TDs against Bears. ... Patriots scored on first six possessions and led Chicago 45-7. ... Patriots top tackler LB Jerod Mayo out for season and leading sacker DE Chandler Jones sidelined with hip injury. Patriots traded with Tampa Bay for LB Jonathan Casillas and signed DL Alan Branch during week.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '