Lucas leads Bulls over Wizards

[January 12, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- John Lucas III scored a career-high 25 points filling in for injured Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls beat the Washington Wizards 78-64 on Wednesday for their third victory in three nights.

Lucas, starting for the first time in his 70-game NBA career, was at the point in place of MVP Rose, who was out with a sprained big left toe. Lucas played 45 minutes, had eight assists, eight rebounds and hit 11 of 28 shots.

Kyle Korver added 14 points, seven in the final quarter, and Luol Deng had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Jordan Crawford paced Washington, 1-9 and coming off its first win a night earlier against Toronto, with 14 points.

The Bulls, holding the Wizards to 32.6 percent first-half shooting, had a 45-37 lead at the half.

But John Wall hit a jumper and had a driving basket and Chris Singleton's jumper capped a 14-4 run to start the third quarter and Washington took a two-point lead. But Lucas connected again from the outside and Taj Gibson had a stuff follow as the Bulls regained a four-point lead headed into the final quarter.

Korver scored five straight points for the Bulls to build the lead to nine and Chicago held on for its 10th win in 12 games.

The Bulls beat Detroit on Monday night and Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Rose hurt his toe in the first quarter in Minneapolis, but stayed in the game and finished with a season-high 31 points. He sat on the bench Wednesday night and could return in Boston on Friday night.

NOTES: Lucas had attempted 39 shots total in the previous seven games he played this season. .... Washington's Andray Blatche didn't play because of a sore right shoulder. ... Injured Chicago guards Richard Hamilton (groin) and C.J. Watson (elbow) also did not play. The Bulls signed veteran guard Mike James for depth. He played the final 40 seconds.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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