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Rose, Bulls beat shorthanded Cavaliers

Jan 2, 2011 - 6:28 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose scored 28 points to go along with 11 assists as the Chicago Bulls used a strong third quarter to take control and held on for a 100-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at United Center.

Luol Deng contributed 23 points and Carlos Boozer notched a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards for the Bulls, who have won four straight.

"We will take the wins any way we can get them," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We know we need to improve in certain areas. We're still finding our way."

J.J. Hickson led the Cavaliers with 21 points in a reserve role. Antawn Jamison added 19 points and nine rebounds and Leon Powe scored 14 for Cleveland, which played the game with a limited lineup.

The Cavaliers were without guards Daniel Gibson (bruised thigh) and Mo Williams (hip flexor strain). The team also made the trip without forward Anderson Varejao, who suffered a non-displaced maxilla (cheek) fracture in the Cavaliers' loss to Charlotte on December 29 and is in Cleveland being fitted for a protective mask.

Up 61-53 at the half, Cleveland widened its advantage to 10 points on Anthony Parker's layup to open the third. But a Kurt Thomas jumper at 10:53 started an 18-2 run and a monstrous quarter for the Bulls.

Thomas also capped the run with a jumper, making it 71-65 midway through the quarter.

Chicago expanded its lead to 11 points on Rose's driving layup with three minutes remaining. The Cavaliers called a timeout to regroup, but out of the break the Bulls widened their advantage to 15, 85-70, with a short 6-2 run to end the quarter.

"One of our biggest problems is still communicating out there on the floor," Cavs head coach Byron Scott said. "We have to do a much better job of communicating, and that's all five guys."

The Bulls outscored Cleveland 32-9 in the quarter while connecting on 13-of-21 from the field. The Cavaliers only made three field goals, shooting a dismal 14.3 percent. Rose led the charge with 12 points and five assists in the period for Chicago.

Cleveland responded in the fourth quarter and pulled within four points on two Jamison free throws with 46.3 seconds remaining. The Cavaliers missed their final four shots from the field down the stretch, however, and the Bulls put the game away at the free throw line.

Jamison led the way with 10 points in the first quarter as the Cavaliers took a 28-24 lead after the opening 12 minutes. Hickson supplied 10 for Cleveland in the second, as the Cavaliers expanded their lead to 61-53 at the half.

Game Notes

The Bulls are 3-0 on a four-game homestand that will conclude with a visit from the Toronto Raptors on January 4...Chicago has won six of seven overall...Thomas finished with a game-high 13 rebounds...The Cavaliers have lost 14 straight on the road, and six straight overall...Manny Harris and Ramon Sessions, who started for Gibson and Williams, had 11 and 13 points, respectively, in the loss.