Porzingis' 27 lead balanced Knicks past Bulls
CHICAGO -- Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and all five New York Knicks starters reached double figures in a 117-104 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at the United Center.
The Knicks (2-3) opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to break the game open after the Bulls (3-2) erased an early double-figure deficit and led in the third quarter.
Porzingis capped the 10-point swing with a dunk and scored six of the 10 points as New York took control after allowing the early lead to slip away.
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points to go along with 17 points from Courtney Lee for the Knicks, who snapped a two-game skid.
Former Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who returned to the United Center for the first time since being traded in the offseason, finished with 15 points and 11 assists. Joakim Noah, Rose's teammate and former Bulls fan favorite, poured in 15 points and had nine rebounds.
Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 35 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 26 points from Jimmy Butler. Wade was 12 of 20 shots from the floor and 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Nikola Mirotic scored 14 points off the bench for the Bulls, who dropped their second straight game.
The Bulls led 57-56 at halftime after erasing an early 16-point deficit.
Chicago used a 9-0 run to get to back within single figures in the first quarter. An Isaiah Canaan driving layup got the Bulls within 44-43 before two Butler free throws put the Bulls up for the first time since they led 3-2.
The Bulls' rally came behind Wade, who had 19 first-half points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and who connected on three of his four first-half 3-point attempts. Mirotic sparked the Bulls off the bench with 12 points to go along with 11 by Butler.
The Knicks jumped out to a 22-6 lead early behind an 11-0 scoring surge before Wade sparked the comeback effort.
NOTES: Knicks G Derrick Rose and C Joakim Noah faced their former team for the first time. Rose said he was surprised to be traded away from his hometown team. "It's a process that sucks, but it comes along with the business," he said. Rose said there is "no bad blood" between himself, his former teammates and the franchise. ... Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek had about 15 family members, including his parents, in attendance for Friday night's game. Hornacek grew up in Chicago's western suburbs. ... C Marshall Plumlee and F Lance Thomas were inactive for New York. ... Bulls G Doug McDermott cleared concussion protocol and returned to the Bulls lineup after missing Wednesday night's game against the Boston Celtics. ...G R.J. Hunter was inactive as was G Michael Carter-Williams, who remains sidelined with a knee injury.