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Bulls resume road trip in Denver

Nov 26, 2010 - 3:50 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls resume their grueling seven-game circus road trip in the Rocky Mountains Friday when they face off with the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

The Bulls have alternated wins and losses on the trek and are coming off a thrilling 123-115 double overtime win in Phoenix on Wednesday. Derrick Rose scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists in that one as Chicago notched the hard-fought victory.

Rose played for about 13 minutes with five fouls and hit a game-tying layup with 0.1 seconds left in the first overtime for the Bulls, who improved to 3-2 on their annual season-long trip. Luol Deng contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Joakim Noah had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, including the pass to Rose to tie the game in the first OT for the Bulls, who were down by as many as 23 before staging a comeback.

"We just kept fighting," Rose said. "It wasn't going our way, but we are the type of team that grinds."

Chicago, which is now 3-4 as the visitor on the year, will finish the trip with a visit to Sacramento on Saturday. A triumph either tonight or tomorrow will give the Bulls a winning record on their circus trip, named for the fact that circus takes over the United Center every year in mid-November, for the first time since 1997-98, Michael Jordan's last season with the team.

The Nuggets, who are opening up a five-game homestand tonight, earned their second win in a row on Monday when Carmelo Anthony rose to the occasion with 39 points, nine rebounds and five assists, as Denver downed Golden State, 106-89, at ORACLE Arena.

Al Harrington added 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Arron Afflalo donated 15 points and nine rebounds and Ty Lawson contributed 14 points for Denver, which has won three of four overall.

"I think a big key to our success over the years has been we've been a big free throw line team," Nuggets head coach George Karl said. "We made the three ball and also outscored them at the free throw line."

Denver, which is 5-1 at home, also will host Phoenix, Milwaukee, the LA Clippers and Memphis on its residency.

The home team has won eight of the last nine meetings in the series, including a 94-92 Chicago win back on Nov. 8 at the United Center.