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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, January 16, 2009

Bulls stop Cavaliers in OT, 102-93

Associated Press

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose was having so much fun late in the game, he couldn't help but let out a primal scream. Then, after a dramatic finish, he let out a big sigh of relief.

Rose scored 16 points after a slow start and Luol Deng added 22 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a surprising 102-93 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night after LeBron James missed a jumper at the end of regulation.

Tied at 87 through regulation after James' 21-footer banged off the rim, the Bulls scored 12 of the first 13 points in OT to avoid a four-game sweep by the Cavaliers.

"Real fun, especially playing a team like that," Rose said. "They're a good team. We played well together, passed the ball good."

Rose let out a loud roar while converting a three-point play that gave the Bulls an 83-81 lead with 4:50 left in regulation. It wasn't his biggest moment, though.

He converted another three-point play 52 seconds into the extra period that broke the 87-87 tie and Kirk Hinrich's 3-pointer with 3:36 left made it 93-87.

James then hit 1 of 2 free throws, but Deng put the Cavaliers away with back-to-back 3-pointers from the left corner — the second bouncing straight up off the rim before dropping through the net to make it 99-88.

"You saying it was luck?" Deng asked.

James finished with 28 points and Mo Williams added 26 for the Cavaliers.

"I absolutely had no lift tonight," said James, who was playing with a cold.

TRAIL BLAZERS 105, NETS 99

Brandon Roy scored 29 points and rookie Jerryd Bayless, playing in place of guard Steve Blake -out for a week-to-10 days with a separated shoulder — added a career-high 23 to help visiting Portland end New Jersey's four-game home winning streak.

NUGGETS 119, SUNS 113

Chauncey Billups scored five of his 26 points in overtime, Nene had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Kenyon Martin had 24 points, including a 3-pointer for a 115-109 lead with 29.6 seconds left as host Denver beat Phoenix.