Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011
CHICAGO — Derrick Rose remembered the celebration the last time the Bulls met Toronto. He wasn't about to let the Raptors yuck it up this time.
Rose had 36 points and 10 assists, and Chicago took another step toward the top seed in the Eastern Conference with its 15th victory in 17 games, hanging on to beat the short-handed Raptors 113-106 Saturday night.
The Bulls lead Miami by three games and Boston by 3½. They also are within one of San Antonio for the league's best record.
Rose scored at least 30 for the third time in five games and got a measure of revenge for a perceived slight in a loss at Toronto in late February.
"I just remember them celebrating after they won back in Toronto," he said.
To Rose, it was embarrassing.
"When you see people celebrating when they normally don't do that … it kind of gets to you, especially being the person that I am," he said. "I just try to feed off of anything, where by nature I'm just a quiet guy trying to get along with a lot of people."
Chicago held out former Gator Joakim Noah (sprained right ankle) for the third straight game.
Injuries slow Magic
ORLANDO — Last month, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he was content playing 10 guys before deciding how to pare down his playoff rotation.
With six games to play, though, Van Gundy simply doesn't have that option anymore.
"I couldn't play 10 guys if I wanted to right now," he said after his team's final practice before traveling to Toronto today. "It's sort of crazy right now."
Over the past several weeks, sixth man J.J. Redick, backup point guards Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon and forward Quentin Richardson have all missed time because of injury or illness.
The Magic will have only nine players for the third straight game tonight.
"The only thing for us that has been tough is that we haven't had the same guys out, so it's been hard to get into any type of rhythm," Van Gundy said.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Zach Randolph had 22 points for the host Grizzlies, who had 17 steals and took sole possession of seventh in the West with a 106-89 victory over the Timberwolves. Minnesota forward Kevin Love (strained left groin) didn't make the trip. … Brandon Jennings scored nine of his 13 in overtime as the host Bucks rallied to beat the 76ers 93-87.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Celtics center Nenad Krstic has a bone bruise in his right knee and is day to day. He was hurt Thursday night against the Spurs.
Bulls 113, Raptors 106
TORONTO (106): J.Johnson 2-7 2-2 7, Davis 7-8 3-4 17, A.Johnson 5-11 2-2 12, Bayless 9-14 6-7 26, DeRozan 10-21 6-7 26, Weems 0-5 0-0 0, Evans 0-0 0-0 0, Barbosa 8-15 2-2 18, Wright 0-0 0-0 0, Ajinca 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-81 21-24 106.
CHICAGO (113): Deng 7-11 2-2 17, Boozer 8-19 2-2 18, Thomas 1-3 0-0 2, Rose 11-20 13-14 36, Bogans 2-4 0-0 5, Gibson 6-11 3-3 15, Asik 1-2 2-3 4, Brewer 2-8 2-2 6, Watson 0-3 0-0 0, Korver 3-4 2-2 10. Totals 41-85 26-28 113.
Toronto 19 24 32 31— 106
Chicago 25 28 30 30— 113
3-Point Goals—Toronto 3-7 (Bayless 2-4, J.Johnson 1-1, Barbosa 0-1, Weems 0-1), Chicago 5-13 (Korver 2-3, Bogans 1-2, Deng 1-2, Rose 1-4, Brewer 0-1, Watson 0-1). Rebounds—Toronto 36 (Davis 11), Chicago 53 (Boozer 10). Assists—Toronto 20 (Bayless 8), Chicago 24 (Rose 10). Total Fouls—Toronto 18, Chicago 19. Technicals—A.Johnson, Toronto Coach Triano. A—22,228 (20,917).
Grizzlies 106, T'wolves 89
MINNESOTA (89): Johnson 1-7 0-0 2, Beasley 8-16 3-4 20, Pekovic 6-9 2-2 14, Ridnour 7-11 2-2 17, Ellington 3-6 0-0 7, Tolliver 5-8 1-2 12, Flynn 0-2 2-2 2, A.Randolph 0-2 1-2 1, Webster 4-8 2-2 12, Hayward 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 35-72 13-16 89.
MEMPHIS (106): Young 4-6 1-2 9, Z.Randolph 9-14 4-4 22, Gasol 5-7 0-0 10, Conley 2-11 0-0 5, Allen 6-13 0-0 12, Arthur 2-5 2-2 6, Mayo 8-12 1-2 20, Battier 3-5 0-0 7, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Powe 5-8 1-2 11, Vasquez 0-4 0-0 0, Haddadi 2-3 0-1 4. Totals 46-90 9-13 106.
Minnesota 20 24 20 25— 89
Memphis 29 27 17 33— 106
3-Point Goals—Minnesota 6-19 (Webster 2-5, Ridnour 1-2, Tolliver 1-2, Beasley 1-2, Ellington 1-3, Flynn 0-2, Johnson 0-3), Memphis 5-12 (Mayo 3-4, Battier 1-1, Conley 1-3, Z.Randolph 0-1, Allen 0-1, Vasquez 0-2). Rebounds—Minnesota 40 (Pekovic 6), Memphis 48 (Gasol 9). Assists—Minnesota 19 (Johnson, Beasley, Tolliver 4), Memphis 23 (Conley 9). Total Fouls—Minnesota 23, Memphis 19. A—15,327 (18,119).
Bucks 93, 76ers 87, OT
PHILADELPHIA (87): Iguodala 2-8 3-4 7, Brand 10-18 0-2 20, Hawes 4-12 4-4 12, Holiday 6-20 2-2 15, Meeks 5-8 1-1 13, Young 6-14 2-2 14, Williams 1-5 1-3 3, Nocioni 1-2 0-0 3, Speights 0-0 0-0 0, Kapono 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-87 13-18 87.
MILWAUKEE (93): Maggette 2-6 4-4 8, Mbah a Moute 5-9 2-4 12, Bogut 4-11 2-4 10, Jennings 3-9 6-6 13, Salmons 8-11 2-2 19, Gooden 6-16 0-0 12, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Dooling 3-4 1-2 8, Redd 2-3 0-0 4, Douglas-Roberts 3-4 1-2 7. Totals 36-74 18-24 93.
Philadelphia 30 18 13 18 8— 87
Milwaukee 20 19 22 18 14— 93
3-Point Goals—Philadelphia 4-14 (Meeks 2-3, Nocioni 1-2, Holiday 1-4, Young 0-1, Iguodala 0-2, Williams 0-2), Milwaukee 3-9 (Salmons 1-1, Dooling 1-2, Jennings 1-3, Gooden 0-1, Maggette 0-1, Redd 0-1). Rebounds—Philadelphia 47 (Brand 12), Milwaukee 54 (Gooden 12). Assists—Philadelphia 24 (Holiday 10), Milwaukee 18 (Salmons 8). Total Fouls—Philadelphia 17, Milwaukee 17. Technicals—Milwaukee defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls—Speights. A—17,079 (18,717).