Derrick Rose scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls beat the Denver Nuggets 106-101 on Thursday night to maintain their stranglehold on the Central Division.
Jimmy Butler scored 26 for Chicago, while Pau Gasol added 17 points, nine rebounds and a career-high nine blocks as the Bulls stretched their divisional lead over Cleveland to four games.
The late surge by Rose lifted the Bulls to their 11th win in 13 games. The 2011 MVP missed his first eight shots, including all seven in a scoreless first half, but the point guard dominated down the stretch, coming up with one big basket after another.
Wilson Chandler led Denver with 22 points. Ty Lawson scored 20, while Arron Afflalo had 19 points. Kenneth Faried added 18 points and 19 rebounds, but the Nuggets fell to 4-12 on the road.
Chicago, who trailed by 13 early in the third, were clinging to a 100-97 lead after Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic scored on a layup with 46 seconds left.
Rose then nailed a jumper, and the Bulls hung on after Faried dunked with 22 seconds remaining to get the Nuggets within three again.
Chicago’s Aaron Brooks hit two free throws to make it a five-point game before Nurkic hit two of his own after he got fouled trying to dunk on Taj Gibson with 11 seconds left. However, Rose then hit two more foul shots to make it 106-101.
The Bulls were trailing 74-70 late in the third quarter when Gasol blocked Nurkic. Butler then got fouled and hit two free throws, sparking a nine-point run.
Kirk Hinrich nailed a three-pointer from the corner with 16 seconds left giving the Bulls a three-point lead, and Gasol capped the run with a running hook to make it 79-74.
KINGS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 107
In Minneapolis, Rudy Gay scored 21 points as the Kings handed the Timberwolves their 10th straight loss.
DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and seven rebounds after being ejected one night earlier, while the Kings shot 54 percent with each of their starters scored in double figures. Darren Collison scored 21 points and Derrick Williams had 17 points, including a big three-pointer down the stretch.
Andrew Wiggins had 27 points and nine rebounds, but the Timberwolves could not take advantage when Cousins and Gay both fouled out in the fourth quarter. Troy Daniels’ three-point attempt at the buzzer was partially blocked.
Gorgui Dieng added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, and Shabazz Muhammad also scored 15.
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