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Rose lifts Bulls past Hornets

Feb 29, 2012 - 5:38 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose scored a game-high 32 points, including the go-ahead bucket with 19.4 seconds remaining, and the Chicago Bulls held off a late New Orleans run to defeat the Hornets, 99-95, on Tuesday.

Joakim Noah and Luol Deng each contributed double-doubles, as Noah scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Deng finished with 14 and 11. Carlos Boozer added 14 points for the Bulls, who have won three straight and five of their last six.

A balanced but ultimately unsuccessful New Orleans attack was paced by Chris Kaman's 17 point, 11 rebound double-double. Five other Hornets scored in double figures, including Trevor Ariza's 16 points. Greivis Vasquez and Xavier Henry netted 12 apiece, while Solomon Jones and Jarrett Jack each had 10 for the visitors, who dropped their third game in their last four.

With the score tied at 95 and 25.7 ticks on the clock, Noah accepted a pass from Deng out of a timeout. He promptly fed Rose on the right wing, and the reigning league MVP fired an uncontested jumper from 19 feet.

The ball bounced off both sides of the rim and grazed the backboard before falling through the cylinder for a two point Chicago edge.

"Joakim had a great pass," said Rose. "We always work on that play at the end of practice and it worked out for us."

Jack missed a running layup try, and Rose sunk two free throws to put the game out of reach.

"In the end, we played good enough to lose," said Jack. "We're really not into moral victories. The only thing that matters is if you come out of there with the win or the 'L,' and we came out with the 'L.'"

The Bulls were seemingly in control up 91-82 at the 5:16 mark, but a driving layup by Marco Belinelli spurred an 11-0 Hornets run for a four point lead with 1:26 to play.

Rose and Noah responded, with the former knocking down two from the charity stripe and the latter forcing a turnover before tapping in Rose's miss off the right side of the backboard to tie it at 95.

Chicago began the game on an 8-0 run and led by as many as 10 in the first, but five turnovers kept New Orleans close, and a 6-0 Hornets spurt to end the first quarter cut their deficit to 30-26 after one.

The Hornets outscored the Bulls 24-17 in the second half and held a 50-47 advantage at halftime.

Chicago has won four straight against New Orleans in the Windy City.

Game Notes

There were eight lead changes and seven ties...Chicago outscored New Orleans 60-46 in the paint and 22-13 on fastbreak opportunities...The Bulls finished a six-game homestand 5-1. They begin a three-game road trip at San Antonio on Wednesday...New Orleans is 5-12 on the road this season.