P – Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls edged the New York Knicks 105-102 in NBA action on Thursday thanks to a balanced offensive attack that saw five players reach double figures.
Rose scored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter for the Bulls, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 19 wins and six losses.
Rose, who also had 13 assists, helped clinch the win by making one of two free throws with 5.3 seconds left in the fourth to close out the scoring.
“I missed one (free throw) so thank God I hit one. I think we had an alright game,” he said.
Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver each had 16 points for the Bulls, who are in the middle of a lengthy road trip. CJ Watson scored 12 points and Joakim Noah finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Amare Stoudemire shot 16 of 27 from the field to finish with a game-high 34 points, and Carmelo Anthony had 26 points for the Knicks who are playing two straight games at home.
The Bulls are now 2-2 on their nine-game road trip which also takes them to Milwaukee and Boston as they try to stay ahead of the second-place Indiana Pacers.
Chicago got plenty of scoring from their supporting cast even though they were without forward Luol Deng (wrist) and guard Richard Hamilton (groin) against the Knicks.
“We are nicked up a bit but guys are stepping in and doing what they have to do. It seems like we are not missing anyone out there,” Rose said.
The Knicks continue to struggle this season as they drop to 8-14 on the year.
Memphis star Rudy Gay scored 21 points to lead five Grizzlies players in double figures in the 105-102 win over a listless Atlanta that prevented the Hawks going clear top of the Southeast Division.
The Grizzlies pulled away late in the first half, closing on an 18-7 run that gave the visitors a 10-point lead at the break. They extended that advantage in the third quarter as Atlanta missed its first seven shots and turned the ball over three times.
The Hawks were coming off a 4-1 road trip that left them tied with Miami for the Southeast Division lead. But they looked exhausted in their return home, putting up ugly jumpers, playing pedestrian defence and struggling just to hang on to the ball.
Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo scored 18 apiece for Memphis.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with just 11 points, playing only 19 minutes.
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 19 points to lead San Antonio past New Orleans 93-81, their third straight win.
A night after Duncan scored 25 in a win over Houston, it was somewhat surprising that he even played. Coach Gregg Popovich has vowed to limit the 35-year-old’s minutes and playing the West’s worst team seemed to invite a night off.
But the Hornets didn’t make it easy. Carly Landry scored 17 points and the visitors kept it close before the Spurs blew out the game in the fourth, condemning New Orleans to their 12th loss in 13 games.
Tony Parker had 18 for the Spurs, who improved to an NBA-best 12-1 at home. They need to stockpile all the home wins they can: After hosting Oklahoma City on Saturday, the Spurs won’t be back home for three weeks due to the San Antonio Rodeo.
In Los Angeles, Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points, including all five of his three-pointers, as Denver ended the Clippers season-high four-game winning streak 112-91.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 119-101 and the Sacramento Kings pipped the Portland Trail Blazers 95-92.
