Rose takes over late, charging Bulls hold off Celtics

Jan 14, 2012, 6:59 GMT

Los Angeles - Reigning NBA most valuable player Derrick Rose erupted for 12 of his 25 points in the final quarter, including a pair of threes, and the surging Chicago Bulls held off a late run to beat the Boston Celtics, 88-79 on Friday night.

Luol Deng had 21 points and 15 rebounds for visiting Chicago (11-2), which recovered after nearly blowing a 20-point cushion en route to its best start since the 1996-97 season.

Kobe Bryant fired in 42 points - his third consecutive game with 40 or more points - carrying the LA Lakers to their fifth straight victory, 97-02, over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ty Lawson had 24 points with nine assists, Nene added 17 points with 12 rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets handed the slumping Miami Heat its third season-high third straight loss, 117-104.

LeBron James scored 35 for Miami, which lost fellow-superstar Dwyane Wade to a right ankle sprain in the fourth quarter.

Frenchman Tony Parker scored 12 of his 20 points in the decisive 34-18 fourth quarter, and the San Antonio Spurs improved to 8-0 at home, with a 88-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki had 11 points and became just the 23rd player in NBA history to score 23,000 points for his 14-year career, as the Dallas Mavericks blew out the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks, 102-76, for their fourth straight victory.

Kevin Love had 34 points with 15 rebounds, while Spanish rookie guard Ricky Rubio chipped in with 12 points, nine assists and the go- ahead free throws down the stretch, carrying the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves past the New Orleans Hornets, 87-80.

Elsewhere: the Philadelphia 76ers whipped the visiting Washington Wizards, 120-89; the host Houston Rockets crowned the Sacramento Kings, 103-89; the visiting New Jersey Nets shaded the short-handed Phoenix Suns minus injured Steve Nash and Grant Hill, 110-103;

Also, the visiting Detroit Pistons snapped a six-game slide, 98-81, over the Charlotte Bobcats. The visiting Indiana Pacers trimmed the Toronto Raptors, 90-85.