Rose And Boozer Lead Bulls Past Pistons
CHICAGO (AP) - Derrick Rose scored 29 points and Carlos Boozer added 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 95-82 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
Luol Deng added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who have won seven straight home games.
The Bulls erased Detroit's 12-point halftime lead midway through the third quarter behind Boozer. He scored nine quick points with his jumper tying it at 61 with 4:54 left in the quarter.
Deng's dunk gave the Bulls a 71-70 lead then Rose took over. He scored the final five points of the period on a three-point play and a 15-footer to give the Bulls a six-point lead.
Rose finished the quarter with 11 points.
The Bulls guard continued his run in the fourth, scoring on a nifty alley-oop dunk from Ronnie Brewer.
Boozer's jumper gave the Bulls an 86-78 lead with 3:54 left and Brewer's 3 a minute later put the game away.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton played, despite his name circulating in a blockbuster three-team trade centering around Carmelo Anthony. The reported deal would reunite Chauncey Billups and Hamilton in New Jersey along with Anthony.
New Jersey would send rookie power forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and others to Denver in the deal that would get them Anthony, Billups, Hamilton, Shelden Williams and Terrico White, who is injured. The Pistons would receive veteran Troy Murphy and center Johan Petro. Murphy has a nearly $12 million contract that will expire after this season.
Hamilton finished with two points off the bench in 21 minutes. He was 0-for-5 from the field.
The Pistons controlled most of the first half thanks to a breakout quarter by Austin Daye. Daye showed off his versatily with his inside out game. He drove the lane for a dunk to give Detroit a 40-31 lead then he made a 3 to give the Pistons a 55-43 lead at the half. Daye scored all 14 of his points in the second quarter, making all six of his shots.
NOTES: Pistons C Ben Wallace left the game and did not return with a sore left ankle after his ankle tangled up with Bulls C Kurt Thomas on the opening tip. ... The Bulls are making a late push to get Rose voted into the All-Star game as a starter by placing placards on every seat for Saturday's game against the Miami Heat. Rose is currently in third place for guards behind Celtics guard Rajon Rondo in the voting. The Bulls have not had a starter since Michael Jordan was selected in 1998. ... Brewer finished with 11 points.
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