Bulls 96, Wizards 78: D.J. Augustin came off the bench to score 25 points and Joakim Noah collected 21 points and 12 rebounds as visiting Chicago pounded Washington in a potential preview of a first-round playoff matchup.

Carlos Boozer scored 16 points for the Bulls, who have won five straight and remained tied with Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference. Kirk Hinrich added 11 points and Jimmy Butler dished out nine assists to offset a 1-for-9 shooting night as Chicago snapped a three-game road skid against Washington.

John Wall scored 20 points and Marcin Gortat added 19 for the Wizards, who remain sixth in the East and fell 2 1/2 games back of fifth-place Brooklyn. Bradley Beal contributed 14 points on 7-of-16 shooting as Washington went just 3-for-16 from 3-point range.

The Bulls doubled up the Wizards 52-26 in a dominant first half, holding Washington to 31 percent from the field while shooting 47.4 percent. They outscored the Wizards 14-2 over the first seven-plus minutes of the second quarter as Washington missed nine of its first 10 shots in the period.

Washington heated up in the third quarter and stormed back within 11 but could never close the gap any farther. Boozer and Augustin knocked down jumpers near the end of the quarter to stretch it to 76-61 entering the fourth and the Wizards never threatened in the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bulls improved to 39-4 when leading after three quarters, including a 17-1 mark on the road. … Noah's double-double was his 42nd of the season. … The Wizards were 0-for-8 from 3-point range and 0-for-4 from the foul line in the first half.