Derrick Rose's layup for Chicago with 8:54 remaining tied the score at
66-66 and C.J. Watson sandwiched a Jason Terry basket for Dallas with a pair of
three-pointers to open up a 72-68 lead that the Bulls would not
relinquish.
"A win is a win," Rose said. "Everything
that went on in that game was kind of terrible, except the way we played
defense." Rose led all
scorers with 26 points and had nine assists, while Kurt Thomas had nine points
and 11 rebounds for Chicago.
"I know I can shoot," said Thomas.
"I just do what's asked to help this team win. Play
solid defense, rebound and when the shot is there, shoot it."
For Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki top scored with 19 and Tyson
Chandler recorded a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Terry scored
seven of his 12 points in the fourth quarter but missed a three-pointer that
would have tied the game with 16 seconds left.
Chicago's Kyle Korver hit a pair of free throws with five
seconds left to ice the win.
"Their team finds ways to win," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle
said. "That has kind of defined their season."
In Charlotte, North Carolina: D.J.
Augustin scored a career-high 31 points, including four free throws in the
final 11 seconds, and Gerald Henderson added three big baskets late, as the
Charlotte Bobcats beat the Philadelphia 76ers 100-97 on Thursday.
Avenging an overtime defeat to the 76ers four days
earlier, the Bobcats won their second straight game the same night they found
out forward Tyrus Thomas would be out up two months with a knee injury.
Thaddeus Young scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth
quarter for the Sixers, who rallied from an eight-point deficit to take the
lead before Henderson hit three consecutive jumpers.
Andre Iguodala added 19 points, but missed a free throw
and a jumper in the final minute in Philadelphia's second straight loss.
At Portland, Oregon,
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and eight rebounds, and Wesley Matthews added
28 points as Portland beat the Los Angeles Clippers to match a season high with
its fourth straight win.
The Trail Blazers shot 56 percent from the field and went
on an 18-6 run to finish the game. Rudy Fernandez had 17 points and Andre
Miller added 15 for the Blazers, who are 11-2 in their last 13 home games.
Eric Gordon had 35 points for Los Angeles despite playing
with an injured tendon on the ring finger of his shooting hand. Blake Griffin
added 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Baron Davis had 16 points.
