Bobcats 96, Bulls 91
Tyrus Thomas and Stephen Jackson each had eight points in the fourth quarter and a clutch basket down the stretch as the host Charlotte Bobcats posted their biggest win of the season, a 92-89 victory over the red-hot Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
D.J. Augustin collected 22 points and 12 assists for the Bobcats (15-21), whose only other win this season against a team that currently has a winning record was against the Denver Nuggets.
The Bobcats squandered a 17-point second-quarter lead and fell behind by five points early in the fourth quarter before rallying. Thomas, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds against his former team, converted an up-and-under drive from left to right to give Charlotte a 90-89 lead with 1:11 left.
After Boris Diaw blocked a drive by Derrick Rose, Jackson backed down Luol Deng on the left block and drained a turnaround jumper for a three-point edge with 34 seconds to go.
Rose turned it over on Chicago’s next possession, and Charlotte cemented the win at the free-throw line.
Jackson scored 16 points and Gerald Wallace returned after missing four games with an ankle injury to add 14 for the Bobcats, who improved to 6-2 under interim coach Paul Silas.
Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who had won 17 of their previous 21 games. Rose, who entered averaging just over 30 points in his last three games, was held to 17 on 5-of-17 shooting.