Since early in the season, when injuries began destroying the Hornets' high expectations, coach Paul Silas has been pointing toward the stretch run, toward what he hoped would be good health and getaway days immediately following the NBA All-Star break.

The push began Wednesday. With a large dose of cooperation from the Chicago Bulls, the Hornets screeched away with a 113-91 victory at the Charlotte Coliseum.

It was a dominant performance, much more so than the 22-point final margin. The Hornets led by 20 in the second quarter, by 33 in the third and, with the reserves in, by 40 midway through the fourth.

In the process they snapped a three-game home losing streak and improved to 24-25, with a home game Friday against Indiana up next.

"We just got out and jumped on them, and then we kept the heat on them," point guard Baron Davis said. "We stayed with our defensive principles and forced them to keep taking contested jumpers. Then it was just a matter of getting out and running."

The Hornets hadn't always done that, especially in games against the Bulls the past three seasons. Charlotte had won 11 of its previous 12 meetings with Chicago, but in nine of those wins the average margin was 4.8 points. The Bulls took them to the wire several times in that stretch, going to overtime once.

This time is was different, in part because of Charlotte's focus after a few days off for the weekend's All-Star events and in part because of Chicago's sub-par performance. Both teams had key players missing because of injuries as the game began, and the Bulls lost two more -- former Hornets Brad Miller and Eddie Robinson -- for the second half.

Chicago had been playing well despite its 12-36 record going into the game. The Bulls twice beat the league-champion Los Angeles Lakers and defeated Central Division leader Milwaukee on Tuesday night on the Bucks' home floor.

"I think a lot of this had to do with our defense," Silas said. "Stacey (Augmon) and Tractor (Robert Traylor) came in and gave us a lift defensively. Tractor really did a good job on Marcus Fizer in the first half and George Lynch did the same on Ron Artest.

"That was big because those two guys had been playing so well for them lately."

Fizer, averaging 11.6 points a game, made two of nine shots and scored four points. Artest, averaging 15.4 points, hit four of 12 shots and scored 10. Overall the Bulls made 41.2 percent of their shots and struggled against Charlotte's defense, turning the ball over 15 times, leading to 21 Hornets points.

Robinson had a good game before he went out, scoring 14 on 7-of-13 shooting in 18 minutes.

Meanwhile the Hornets put it all together, shooting 54.9 percent, outrebounding the Bulls 48-40 and clobbering them in the paint (64-40) and on fast-break points (21-6).

Lee Nailon's 24 topped the Hornets and five others scored in double figures. Davis had 12 assists. Elden Campbell blocked six shots. And Jamaal Magloire led the bench production with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

"I thought it was going to be a much tougher game," Silas said. "It was just a good win, a good way to start the second half of the season."

Note

Hornets forward Matt Bullard was put on the injured list with back spasms. He will not be replaced on the active roster at this time.