Nuggets 108 - 91 Bulls
Final
  for this game

Bulls get back to work with Nuggets in town

Mar 26, 2012 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - Fresh off becoming the first NBA team to reach 40 wins and clinch a postseason berth, the Chicago Bulls will get back to work on Monday when they welcome the Denver Nuggets to the Second City.

The Bulls are not only a gaudy 40-10 overall, they improved to 12-4 on the season without reigning MVP Derrick Rose on Saturday when Luol Deng's follow- up bucket at the buzzer in overtime lifted Chicago past Toronto 102-101.

Down one, the Bulls got the ball to C.J. Watson, who drove into the lane, but his fallaway shot was met by James Johnson's fourth block of the night. Deng was under the bucket and the ball was inches off his fingertips and on its way to the basket when the red light illuminated.

Video replay confirmed the call, which meant a fourth straight victory for the Eastern Conference leaders. Carlos Boozer had 24 points and Deng netted 23 with each grabbing 10 boards for the Bulls, who are 20-4 at United Center. Watson, starting in place of Rose, also scored 23 for Chicago.

"I saw the light after it left my hand, but you really never know," Deng said.

Rose, who is dealing with a strained groin, is listed as day-to-day but will sit for a seventh consecutive game tonight as Chicago attempts to get its superstar right for the postseason.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, have opened a key seven-game road trip with consecutive losses to Utah and Minnesota. Most recently Denver fell in the Twin Cities, 117-100, on Sunday.

Rookie Kenneth Faried led the Nuggets with 17 points, while Ty Lawson and Andre Miller both donated 14 points against the Timberwolves.

Denver, which had won eight straight at Minnesota, suffered its third loss in four games overall and is now deadlocked with Utah and Houston for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.

"They started making shots and we couldn't get back in the game," said Nuggets forward Corey Brewer.

Denver is 11-11 on the road this season and will finish its extended trip with visits to Toronto, Charlotte, Orlando and New Orleans.






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