Bulls 104, Kings 86
Pau Gasol posted his 13th straight double-double with 26 points and 16 rebounds as Chicago cruised past visiting Sacramento.
Derrick Rose added 23 points and seven assists as the Bulls earned their third straight win. Tony Snell went 9-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc en route to a career-high 24 points off the bench for Chicago, which won for the second time in the last six home games.
Rudy Gay (foot) returned from a one-game absence and delivered 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Kings, who failed to win back-to-back games for the first time since November. DeMarcus Cousins collected 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Sacramento played through rumors that George Karl is about to take over as head coach.
Rose scored the Bulls’ final eight points of the second quarter and totaled 16 in the half as Chicago took a 57-49 lead into the break. Snell had a 3-pointer and a dunk and Gasol scored 11 points in a 19-4 run beginning the third quarter that extended the lead to 23 points.
The Bulls settled for an 84-64 lead heading into the fourth before the Kings made a run and chopped the deficit to 92-79 on Cousins’ layup with 5:22 to play. Snell knocked down a pair of free throws and Rose scored to stop the bleeding as Chicago closed it out.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gasol needs two more double-doubles in the next two games to tie Michael Jordan’s franchise record. … The Kings are reportedly finalizing a contract with Karl that would have him take over on the bench after the All-Star break. … Bulls F Mike Dunleavy (ankle) returned from a 19-game absence and scored five points in 24 minutes.