Bulls 90, Nets 81
Carlos Boozer posted his fifth double-double in six games and Derrick Rose and Luol Deng combined for 38 points as the Chicago Bulls won their third straight game, a 90-81 victory over the struggling New Jersey Nets on Friday.
Boozer had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. The power forward entered averaging 25.4 points, 12 rebounds and 3.4 assists in his last five games as Chicago improved to 12-4 since his return to the lineup.
Rose contributed 19 points despite 5-of-16 shooting, and also had nine assists. Deng had 19 points and eight boards.
Brook Lopez scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half and Stephen Graham added 16 points for New Jersey, which fell to 1-5 during a stretch in which 10 of 13 games are being played on the road.
Rose and Deng scored seven points apiece in the first seven minutes of the third to push a two-point halftime lead to 62-52. The Nets got within 75-73 on a tip by rookie Derrick Favors midway through the fourth before Boozer and Rose combined for nine points over the next three minutes to extend the edge to 86-77.