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Bulls stay hot in rout of Minnesota

Dec 12, 2010 - 7:23 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose scored 21 points, Luol Deng had 19 and the streaking Chicago Bulls led by as many as 34 on the way to a 113-82 rout of Minnesota.

Carlos Boozer added 17 points, while Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver both scored 12 to help the Bulls to their fifth straight win.

The Timberwolves fell to 1-12 on the road this season and lost for the ninth time in their last 11 games overall.

They were led by Kevin Love's 23 points and 15 rebounds -- both game-highs -- and 16 points from Michael Beasley.

Minnesota's final lead was 4-2 early in the first quarter. Rose helped the Bulls take control, scoring eight points in the frame, including a jumper that capped a 12-4 run and give them an 11-point lead at 21-10.

It was still early, but Timberwolves guard Luke Ridnour knew it would be tough for his team to play from behind on the road.

"That's the one thing you don't want to do," Ridnour said. "We got buried early and we tried to fight back but they played a good game and we didn't come out with the energy we needed. That's on us as players."

The Bulls carried a 27-18 advantage into the second quarter and led by as many as 26 points before halftime on the way to a 58-37 advantage at the break.

Love led all players with 15 points in the first half, but his team shot just 36 percent from the field. Boozer scored 13 in the half, Rose had 12 and the Bulls shot 46 percent.

"We just came out focused," said Rose. "This was going to be a tough game. We just tried to stay under control and not let them back in."

Minnesota scored the first five points of the third quarter, trimming its deficit to 16, and got as close as 14 in the first three minutes. But an 8-0 run capped by one of Rose's five three-pointers gave Chicago a 22-point lead at 68-46.

The Bulls carried that 22-point lead into the fourth, beginning the final quarter ahead 87-65. The advantage never dipped below 20 in the last 12 minutes and it reached as high as 34 on a Kurt Thomas jumper in the last two minutes.

Chicago has also beaten the Rockets, Thunder, Cavaliers and Lakers on its current five-game win streak. It will wrap up a three-game homestand against Indiana on Monday.

Game Notes

Chicago shot 47.7 percent for the game and was 10-for-17 from three-point range behind Rose's 5-for-6 performance...Minnesota shot 39.8 percent...Bulls center Joakim Noah had a season-high six blocks...The Timberwolves began a six-game road trip that will also include contests against the Warriors, Suns, Blazers, Nuggets and Clippers.