Bulls 99, Magic 90
Derrick Rose, playing with two stomach ulcers, had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the host Chicago Bulls held off the Orlando Magic 99-90 on Friday for their fourth straight victory.
Carlos Boozer finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds – eight and eight in each half, and Luol Deng had 24 of his 26 points in the second half for the Bulls (32-14), who have won seven of their last eight games.
Dwight Howard had a season-high 40 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter for the Magic (30-17). He finished with 15 rebounds, his fifth straight game with 14 or more, and was 14 for 20 from the field.
Howard scored 11 straight Magic points in the fourth quarter to help Orlando close to within 93-90 with 1:28 left before a Deng basket and two Rose free throws helped the Bulls put it away.
The Bulls started the second half with a 20-5 run behind Deng, who scored the first eight points. Rose had eight points and five assists in the third quarter as the Bulls took an 80-68 lead.
Deng added eight rebounds as the Bulls dominated the boards, 54-40.
Magic point guard Jameer Nelson left the game with 4:26 left in the first quarter because of a sore knee and did not return.