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Rose blooms as Bulls rock Mavericks

Oct 22, 2008 - 3:30 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- It's only preseason, but it still qualifies as a monumental comeback - or collapse - depending on your point of view.

The Chicago Bulls rode 14 fourth-quarter points from rookie Derrick Rose to overcome a 17-point deficit and stun the Dallas Mavericks, 109-105, on Tuesday.

Rose, the first overall selection in this summer's NBA draft out of Memphis, finished with 30 points, his best outing of the preseason. Andres Nocioni scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for Chicago (2-4).

The Mavericks (4-3) built a 23-point lead midway through the third quarter and appeared to be comfortably ahead, 89-72, when they took out most of their regulars to start the fourth quarter.

But the Bulls, who also took out their starters, kept chipping away, outscoring Dallas, 20-5, to pull to within two on Nocioni's jump shot with 3:13 remaining. Two free throws from Aaron Gray finally tied the score at 101-101 with 1:09 left.

After Dallas' Gerald Green missed a layup, Rose hit a jumper from the baseline with 41 seconds left to give Chicago its first lead and send any remaining fans to the exits.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 26 points, all in the first three quarters, while Green, who poured in 29 Saturday night in less than two quarters, finished with 19.

The Mavericks surged to a fast start, building a 14-2 lead over the game's first five minutes, en route to a 28-16 lead after the first quarter. That set the tone for the entire contest, as the Bulls trailed by double digits all night until their late charge.