NBA
BULLS 104, SPURS 81
CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose drove hard to the rim. The defense was at its stifling, suffocating best.
More than anything, the swagger was back and so were the Bulls.
Rose scored 22 points and struggling Chicago beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-81 on Thursday night.
The Bulls came away with a much-needed victory after dropping six of eight and handed the defending champions their most lopsided loss of the season.
The Central division leaders broke this one open in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 31-20, and snapped San Antonio's four-game victory streak.
"It shows what we're capable of doing," All-Star Pau Gasol said.
Rose, who called out his team after Monday's loss at Cleveland, led six Bulls in double figures.
He was aggressive going to the rim, hitting 9 of 16 shots. Rose played just 45 seconds in the fourth quarter because of some stiffness and the lopsided score, but he expects to suit up at Dallas today.
Gasol added 12 points and 17 rebounds after being voted to his fifth All-Star game and first as a starter.
Jimmy Butler scored 17 on just nine shots. Taj Gibson added 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Aaron Brooks scored 15, and the Bulls snapped a three-game home losing streak.
After giving up at least 102 points in six of the previous eight games, Chicago held San Antonio to 37 percent shooting. The Spurs' Kawhi Leonard scored all of his team-leading 16 points in the first half.
"We just played embarrassing basketball," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said. "I want my money back."
CELTICS 90, TRAIL BLAZERS 89
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Evan Turner hit a three-pointer with one second left and the Boston Celtics overcame the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers.
Avery Bradley had 18 points to lead the Celtics, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Damian Lillard had 21 points and seven assists to lead the Blazers, who have lost five of their last six as they struggle with injuries to their front line.
The Blazers were hit before the game with the news that three-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge had torn a ligament in his left thumb and would need surgery. The 6-foot-11 power forward is expected to miss from six to eight weeks.
JAZZ 101, BUCKS 99
MILWAUKEE -- Gordon Hayward scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz held on for a victory over Milwaukee as the Bucks missed their last five shots in the closing minute.
The Jazz appeared to be in control after a 15-3 run, taking a 101-92 lead on two free throws by Hayward with 2:35 remaining. But the Bucks pulled within the final score on Jared Dudley's three-pointer from the top right with 1:29 left.
The Bucks had a final opportunity when an officials review awarded them the ball out of bounds under the basket with 7.1 seconds left. Brandon Knight missed a jumper with two seconds left and Zaza Pachulia missed the tip-in at the buzzer.
Enes Kantner had 23 points and Dante Exum, the fifth overall pick in the draft, scored a career-high 15 points in just his second start in 43 games.
Knight and Dudley had 16 points apiece for Milwaukee, which has now failed to score 100 points for 10 consecutive games.
The Bucks erased a 53-47 halftime deficit with a pair of third-quarter spurts.
Sports on 01/23/2015