Bulls pull away in 2nd half, top winless 76ers 111-88

PHILADELPHIA -- Nikola Mirotic had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Pau Gasol scored 16 points to lead the Chicago Bulls past the winless Philadelphia 76ers, 111-88 on Monday night.

The Bulls played without Joakim Noah and still cruised to a 15-point lead in the first quarter. They eventually stretched the lead to 26 points. Doug McDermott scored 18 points and Derrick Rose had 12.

Philadelphia (0-7) has lost 17 straight games dating to March 27, 2015. The 17-game skid matches the fourth-longest mark in franchise history, and three of those lengthy losing streaks have come since the start of the 2013-14 season.

The Sixers matched an NBA record with 26 straight losses from Jan. 31, 2014, to March 27, 2014, and also lost 17 straight from Oct. 29, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2014, according to STATS LLC.

Under coach Brett Brown, the Sixers' last win was March 25 against Denver.

Led by Gasol and Rose, the Bulls went on a 22-4 run in the first quarter to race to a 15-point lead, only to lose it in the second quarter. The Bulls are the latest team to cruise to a big lead early, then appear to lose interest and cough it up, only to wake up and step on the gas and put away the game.

With a 40-39 lead, Philly guard Nik Stauskas missed an open 3. McDermott, one of the top 3-point shooters in the league, buried one to put Chicago ahead and followed on the next possession with a driving dunk to give the Bulls a cushion they would not relinquish.

Mirotic, starting for Noah, hit three 3s in the third.

Jahlil Okafor continued to serve as a lone bright spot for the Sixers, shaking off a 2-for-10 start from the floor to finish 9 of 25 and have his first career double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Without Noah to contend with, Okafor shot 6 of 9 in the third and scored 14 points.

TIP-INS

Bulls: The Bulls have beat the 76ers seven straight times, including four straight on the road. ... The Bulls hit double digits in turnovers and have had only one game this season in single digits. They had 17 games in single digits last season.

Sixers: The 76ers also lost 20 straight from Jan. 9, 1973-Feb. 11, 1973; and 19 straight from March 21, 1972-Nov. 10, 1972. ... Philadelphia Eagles attended the game and tossed T-shirts into the stands.

OUCH:

Bulls: Noah was listed in the starting lineup, then benched for Mirotic. Noah must have tweaked his left knee at some point during shootaround and was not only not in the lineup, but sat out of the game with soreness. He averaged 2.4 points and 7.1 rebounds this season.

Sixers: F Nerlens Noel (12.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg) sat out with soreness in both wrists. Noel was hurt Friday against Cleveland and played the next night against Orlando. But with Noel complaining of soreness and the Sixers facing a loaded schedule this week with games against Toronto, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Brown decided to rest the big man for a big slate of games ahead. ... F Robert Covington (right knee sprain) could return this weekend. ... The Sixers missed 20 of 25 3-pointers.

UP NEXT:

Bulls: Host Charlotte on Friday.

Sixers: Host Toronto on Wednesday.