Young has 21 as Sixers surprise Bulls at home

[March 29, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Thaddeus Young scored 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers built a 23-point lead and held on Monday night, beating the Chicago Bulls 97-85 and ending their 14-game home winning streak.

Chicago, losing for only the second time in its last 14 games overall, got 31 points from Derrick Rose, who also had 10 turnovers. The Bulls still own the best record in the East, leading by two games over the Celtics and Heat. Boston lost to Indiana on Monday night and Miami was idle.

Andre Iguodala added 19 points and seven assists for the 76ers, who lost at the United Center by 45 points in December. Philly had six players in double figures.

Carlos Boozer scored 15 points for the Bulls, and Joakim Noah had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

After the Bulls cut into the big deficit and trailed by only five entering the final quarter, Iguodala converted a three-point play.

Rose made two strong drives for baskets, once with a highlight-film crossover as the Bulls rallied within four.

The lead went back to eight on a layup by Young, who moments later was shaken during a loose ball scramble with just over 5 minutes left. And when 7-foot-1 Spencer Hawes hit back-to-back jumpers, Philly had increased the lead back to 10 with 3:45 to go.

Rose made two at the line and Noah drove for a basket to make it a six-point game before Hawes connected again and Jrue Holiday had a layup after a Bulls turnover to put it back to 10 and put it out of reach.

Young scored 17 points in the first half and the Sixers led by as many as 23 before settling for a 53-37 halftime lead. Philly shot 46 percent and had a strong defensive effort against Rose, holding him to seven points on 3-for-8 shooting.

But Rose responded in the third with three driving baskets and a floater and his 10 points finally brought the United Center crowd into the game. Trailing by 19 early in the quarter, the Bulls turned up the defense and got their break going. They scored the final eight points of the period to close within 69-64 on Kyle Korver's long jumper from the corner just before the buzzer. Philly was outscored 27-16 in the third.

Young had 13 points in the second quarter and the Sixers kept running, driving and beating the Bulls to rebounds, building a 48-25 point lead.

Philly came out blazing at the outset, making 13 of 24 field-goal attempts in the opening quarter and taking a 27-13 lead after one when Young dunked just before the buzzer. Hawes scored eight points -- one more than his season average -- and showed an outside touch while shooting 4 of 6.

The 76ers cut Rose off so he couldn't penetrate in the middle as he missed three of four shots and scored only two in the first. Chicago shot only 30 percent (6 for 20) in the first.

NOTES: The Bulls' season low for points in the first half was 36 against the Lakers in December. Their lowest-scoring half of the season was 30 in the second against Atlanta earlier this month. ... It was the Bulls' first home loss since Jan. 18 against Charlotte. ... Philly shot 45 percent for the game and Young was 10 for 16.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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