Bulls 106 - 104 Bucks
Final
  for this game

Rose, Bulls blast Bucks at buzzer

Mar 8, 2012 - 7:00 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose crossed over once more to his left, leaving Brandon Jennings in the lurch.

Then, with the final seconds ticking off, the reigning NBA MVP stepped back from 20 feet and knocked down a jumper to give the Chicago Bulls their first eight-game winning streak in almost a year.

Rose scored 30 points, the last two on his game-winning shot at the buzzer, and the Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-104 on Wednesday.

The Bulls have won eight in a row for the first time since capturing the last nine games last season, getting the most recent victory on the back of their star point guard.

Rose, who had 11 assists, kept the ball for the final 18.1 seconds after the Bulls inbounded the ball one last time. Working against Jennings on the right side, he backed the Bucks guard off just enough with his final dribble to get the separation he needed inside the three-point line.

Jennings scrambled to contest the try, but was too late. Rose's 22nd shot of the night dropped through the basket as smoothly as it left his hands.

"What can you say?" said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "Another big shot."

Joakim Noah added 20 points and 10 rebounds and Carlos Boozer scored 15 for the Bulls, who have also won eight in a row against Milwaukee, including all four meetings this season.

"It's a little frustrating," said Jennings. "He wasn't hitting jumpers at all the whole night...I had to play the jump shot. Just a great player."

Luol Deng chipped in 12 points and Taj Gibson had 10 off the bench for Chicago while Rose fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double in the team's NBA-leading 33rd win of the season.

Before guarding Rose on the final play, Jennings missed a driving layup at the other end, but teammate Ersan Ilyasova scored off the rebound to tie the game at 104. The putback came after Rose had given the Bulls a two-point lead on a pair of free throws with 32.5 seconds remaining.

Ilyasova had a game-high 32 points for Milwaukee with 10 rebounds and Drew Gooden scored 27. Jennings finished 4-of-18 for 11 points.

The Bucks haven't beaten Chicago since April 6, 2010, but they did have a pair of two-point leads late in the fourth quarter -- first on an Ilyasova three and then on his free throws with 3:46 left.

Earlier, the Bulls had a 33-30 lead after a tight first quarter and a 55-50 advantage at halftime. The game was tied 73-73 going into the fourth quarter.

Chicago played without guard Richard Hamilton, who left Monday's win over Indiana with a shoulder injury and will likely miss a few games. Guard C.J. Watson missed the game with a left ankle sprain.

The Bulls shot almost 52 percent and Milwaukee shot just under 48 percent.

Game Notes

The Bucks fell to 3-10 in their last 13 games...The Bulls are headed back to Chicago for a six-game homestand that starts Thursday against Orlando.






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