CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 101-93 on Saturday night for their season-high fourth straight win.
For all the speculation about coach Vinny Del Negro's job status, the Bulls are playing their best ball of the year. And so is Rose, who finished two points shy of a career high he set against Atlanta last month.
Slowed by an ankle injury early on, he started the new year on the right foot after averaging just over 20 points in December.
Rose scored the final six points of a 20-2 run spanning the second and third quarters that gave Chicago a 13-point lead, and he hit two free throws with 24.5 seconds left in the game to make it 98-93 after J.J. Redick hit a 3-pointer to pull Orlando within three.
The Magic called time, but Matt Barnes missed a lean-in 3-point attempt, and Jameer Nelson clanged another from beyond the arc. Ryan Anderson then had another shot from long range rim out with seven seconds left off an inbound pass, and the Bulls hung on from there.
Barnes did his best to keep Orlando in it, scoring 15 of his season-high 23 points in the third quarter. Anderson added 12, including a 3 that pulled the Magic to 90-85 with just over three minutes left, but Orlando's stars were all but invisible.
Dwight Howard managed just nine points and 12 rebounds against Joakim Noah after being held in check the previous night in a win at Minnesota. Rashard Lewis scored seven points, Vince Carter made only 3 of 15 shots in an eight-point effort, and Jameer Nelson scored all of his 10 in the second half.
Nelson's slow start came after a 16-point performance against the Timberwolves that eased some concerns after his surgically repaired left knee swelled up following a Christmas Day loss to Boston.
SPURS 97, WIZARDS 86: At Washington, Tim Duncan scored 23 points and reserve Roger Mason Jr. added a season-high 20 to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 97-86 victory Saturday night over the Washington Wizards, who remained enveloped in a gun controversy surrounding Gilbert Arenas. Tony Parker had 12 points for the Spurs, whose five-game winning streak matches a season high. San Antonio has won four straight on the road and nine in a row against the Wizards. Duncan's jump-hook gave the Spurs an 81-80 lead with 6:21 left in the game, and he followed that with two free throws as part of a decisive 12-2 run.
CAVALIERS 94, NETS 86: At East Rutherford, N.J., LeBron James had 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead Cleveland to its seventh straight victory. Mo Williams added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who have won 12 of 13, and Anderson Varejao had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal finished with 12 points and nine boards.
CELTICS 103, RAPTORS 96: At Boston, Ray Allen scored 23 points, Rasheed Wallace added 16 and Boston won despite missing three starters because of injuries. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo all sat out, but Tony Allen had 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Glen Davis chipped in 15 points, and Kendrick Perkins had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Boston.
HORNETS 99, ROCKETS 95: At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 28 points and nine assists and New Orleans closed the game on a 13-2 run. Emeka Okafor had 14 points and 16 rebounds, and David West added 14 points, including a jumper that gave the Hornets the lead for good with 47.6 seconds left after they trailed by seven late in the fourth quarter.
BOBCATS 107, HEAT 97: At Miami, Stephen Jackson scored 13 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter, D.J. Augustin added all 13 of his in the final 11 minutes and Charlotte won a road game for just the second time this season. Jackson shot 11 of 20 from the floor and added eight rebounds for Charlotte, which erased an early 19-point deficit and improved to 2-14 away from home. Dwyane Wade had 29 points and 11 assists for Miami, which dropped its third straight.
PACERS 122, TIMBERWOLVES 111: At Indianapolis, Roy Hibbert and Luther Head each scored 21 points to help Indiana snap an eight-game losing streak. Brandon Rush scored 16 points and Mike Dunleavy added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who played without injured forwards Troy Murphy and Tyler Hansbrough. Al Jefferson scored 23 points, Wayne Ellington had a career-high 16 and Kevin Love also scored 16 for the Timberwolves, who have lost four straight.
MAVERICKS 99, KINGS 91: At Sacramento, Calif., Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points to help Dallas improve to a Western Conference-best 12-5 on the road. Jose Barea scored 17 points and Josh Howard added 16 points for the Mavericks. Omri Casspie scored 22 points for the Kings.
TRAIL BLAZERS 105, WARRIORS 89: At Portland, Ore., Brandon Roy scored 37 points, Andre Miller added 23 and Portland won despite dressing only eight players. Martell Webster had 21 points and 11 rebounds for injury-plagued Portland, which essentially used six players. Monta Ellis scored 30 points and Corey Maggette added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors.
GRIZZLIES 128, SUNS 103: At Phoenix, O.J. Mayo had 25 points and reserve Sam Young added a career-high 22 to help Memphis to its most lopsided victory of the season. Marc Gasol scored 19 points for the Grizzlies, and Zach Randolph had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 29 points, and Steve Nash had 19 points and 13 assists.
BUCKS 103, THUNDER 97 (OT): At Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored six of his 27 points in overtime to help Milwaukee snap a four-game losing streak.Andrew Bogut had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Bucks, who ended Oklahoma City's win streak at five games. Kevin Durant had 31 points for the Thunder.