Rose's last-minute jumper leads Bulls past Hornets

[February 29, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Derrick Rose scored 32 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 19.4 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls closed with an 8-0 run to beat the New Orleans Hornets 99-95 Tuesday night.

Joakim Noah had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, and Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng added 14 points each. Rose scored six points in Chicago's final run.

Chris Kaman had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Trevor Ariza scored 16 points.

The Hornets stunned the Bulls by scoring 13 consecutive points to turn a nine-point deficit into a four-point lead with 1:26 left before Rose rescued Chicago.

Rose hit two free throws and, after a New Orleans turnover, his miss was tapped in by Noah to tie the score at 95 with 52 seconds left.

After a miss by Gustavo Ayon, the Bulls rebounded, called a timeout with 25.7 seconds to go and Rose's jumper from the right baseline side rimmed the basket and went back in with 19.4 seconds to go.

Jarret Jack couldn't connect for the Hornets and Rose hit two from the line with 10.6 second left for a 99-95 lead. Rose was fouled again with four seconds left and missed both but by then it was too late for the Hornets.

Kyle Korver hit a 3 after missing his first four attempts and Rose scored on a left-handed layup to give Chicago a 91-82 lead with a little more than 5 minutes to go.

But Marco Belinelli and Jack scored for New Orleans, chopping Chicago's lead to 91-86 with just under 4 minutes left. Ariza then hit a 3, Ayon had two baskets and Belinelli a driving basket in the unlikely spurt that put the Hornets up 95-91.

Down three at the half, the Bulls came out in the third quarter and built a seven-point lead. Rose, who had 21 of his points in the second half, started it with a driving basket and Deng had seven points, including a 3-pointer. Boozer's follow made it 66-59 halfway through the period.

New Orleans kept scrapping, especially Kaman, and his follow-up hoop highlighted a 10-2 spurt that put New Orleans back on top by one

Ronnie Brewer then scored twice and Rose had a twisting left-landed layup as the Bulls regained the lead 76-70 after three quarters.

Chicago got a big lift offensively in the first quarter from Noah, who had three dunks and 11 of his 13 first-half points. But unhappy when he thought a basket interference call should have been made and wasn't, he also picked up a technical with 1:23 to go in the half. The Bulls seemed out of sorts and New Orleans led 50-47 at the half despite shooting 38.6 percent.

Guard Richard Hamilton returned to the Bulls lineup and appeared in just his 12th game this season. Bothered by a sore thigh he hadn't played since Jan. 29. He scored the game's first basket and converted a three-point play but played only eight minutes in the first half. He finished with five points and five assissts in 16 minutes.

The Bulls beat the Hornets 90-67 three weeks ago in New Orleans.

NOTES: Injury update: Hornets' F Carl Lndry (left knee sprain) and C Jason Smith (concussion) are still a few days away from returning, coach Monty Williams said.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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