The Sixers outscored the Bulls, 26-11, in the third quarter, blowing open what had been a close game to lead by 20 at the start of the fourth quarter.
And unlike their previous game, when they blew a big lead against Orlando and let the Magic creep back before putting them away, the Sixers kept the Bulls at a safe distance for the entire fourth quarter.
Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Jrue Holiday played reigning league MVP Derrick Rose to a standstill, finishing with 17 points and five assists.
Rose finished with 18 points but had just three in the second half. Backup C.J. Watson led the Bulls (18-6) with 20 points.
The Sixers bench was lethal, and no one more so than rookie Lavoy Allen. Getting extended minutes lately because of injuries to other players, Allen finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Thaddeus Young tied Iguodala for scoring honors with 19, and Lou Williams added 14 points and six assists. Young also pulled down eight boards.
The game marked the second opportunity for the Sixers to measure themselves against one of the Eastern Conference's elite teams. The other came last month at Miami, when they played the Heat evenly through three quarters before the Heat blew them out.
Both the Heat (Dwyane Wade) and the Sixers (Hawes) were without crucial players then. On Wednesday, the Bulls were without Coatesville's Richard Hamilton (sore right thigh). The Sixers, meanwhile, were again without Hawes, out since Jan. 16 with a strained left Achilles tendon.
