Bulls 100, Cavaliers 91
Derrick Rose had 28 points and 11 assists and the Chicago Bulls needed a surprising second-half rally to hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers, 100-91, on Saturday for their 13th win in 15 games.
The Cavaliers were without starters Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao, yet they enjoyed a 61-53 lead over the stunned Bulls at the half.
Chicago responded by attacking the basket in the third quarter, taking advantage of a Cavalier defense that sorely missed their defensive stopper in Varejao.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, sputtered offensively. They missed numerous point-blank looks in the paint and shot just 3 of 21 from the floor to finish the third quarter with a season-low nine points as the Bulls took command of the game.
Chicago led by as much as 14 in the fourth quarter, but Cleveland cut it to three in the final minutes.
Luol Deng had 23 points and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls.
J.J. Hickson had 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench, Antawn Jamison had 19 points and nine rebounds and undrafted rookie Manny Harris had 11 points, three rebounds and three assists in his second straight start for the Cavs, who have lost 15 of their last 16.