Bulls 88, Lakers 87
Derrick Rose hit a runner in the lane with 4.8 seconds left and finished with 22 points as the Chicago Bulls overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out an 88-87 victory over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Luol Deng collected 21 points and seven rebounds and blocked Kobe Bryant’s desperation floater attempt as the buzzer sounded.
Bryant shook off a torn wrist ligament to collect 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists but also committed eight turnovers, including one with 16 seconds left that led to Rose’ game-winner.
Los Angeles struggled on the defensive end against younger, quicker Chicago in the first half, allowing it to shoot 58.5 percent from the floor and jump out to a 56-49 lead at the break.
But the Lakers made an adjustment at the half and tightened up, holding Chicago to 12 points in the third and going into the final frame up, 69-68, when Josh McRoberts dunked off a feed from Steve Blake.
An 11-2 burst over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter extended the lead to double-digits.
The Bulls made a move to get back into it and cut it to 87-86 with 20.4 seconds remaining after Deng completed a three-point play and then buried two more free throws on the next possession.