Rose blossoms for Bulls
04/12/2010 03:19:56 AM
The Chicago Bulls beat Toronto 104-88 to take a one-game lead over the Raptors in the race for the final Eastern Conference play-off spot.
Derrick Rose was the star for the visitors at the Air Canada Centre, scoring 26 points, while Joakim Noah weighed in with 18 as the Bulls won all four quarters.
Dwyane Wade scored 32 points as the Miami Heat pulled into a tie for fifth place with a 111-98 victory over the New York Knicks, while Orlando Magic recovered from a 28-19 first quarter deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-92.
In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers edged out the Los Angeles Lakers 91-88 at Staples Center, improving their prospects of avoiding the top-seeded Lakers in the first round of the play-offs.
Emeka Okafor scored 23 points as the New Orleans Hornets ended a run of five successive defeats with a 114-86 victory over the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Durant scored a whopping 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder poured in 42 in the first quarter of their match against Golden State - but it was still not enough as the struggling Warriors scored a morale-lifting 120-117 victory.
And Amare Stoudemire impressed for the Phoenix Suns, scoring 35 points in their 116-106 win over the Houston Rockets, for whom Luis Scola led the way with 30.