Bulls 87, Wizards 80
Carlos Boozer had 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the visiting Chicago Bulls used a strong second half to push past the Washington Wizards, 87-80, on Wednesday.
Derrick Rose scored 25 points and Luol Deng added 14 for the Bulls, who have won nine of 10 and play again on Christmas at New York in a battle of rising Eastern Conference teams.
The Wizards led, 58-50, with three minutes gone in the third quarter when the Bulls began to make their move, ripping off a 13-0 run to take control as Boozer had eight points.
The Wizards fought back to retake the lead, but Rose scored six points in the final 2:02 of the period to send the Bulls into the final quarter with a 73-70 edge.
Washington kept it close in the fourth quarter, pulling within 83-80 with just over two minutes left. But Boozer snapped a 4:40 scoring drought for Chicago with a layup, and the Bulls hung on for the victory.
Nick Young scored 22 points and Kirk Hinrich added 19 and nine assists for the Wizards.