NBA Wrap: Boozer scores 30 points in Bulls' victory

Boozer scores 30 points in Bulls' victory

Posted Dec 22 2010 10:14PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Carlos Boozer scored 30 points and Derrick Rose added 25 to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Washington Wizards 87-80 on Wednesday night for their ninth victory in 10 games.

Boozer also had 10 rebounds and a season-high seven assists to go with his second 30-point performance this season. The Bulls are 9-3 since Boozer returned after missing the first 15 games with a broken hand.

Chicago was coming off of a 45-point win against Philadelphia Tuesday, but didn't take the lead for good until late in the third quarter against Washington.

Luol Deng added 14 points for Chicago.

Nick Young scored 22 points for the Wizards. Kirk Hinrich added 19, Josh Howard 13 and Al Thornton 11 for Washington, which again fell short in an attempt for its first two-game winning streak of the season.

Washington led 50-46 at the half and extended the lead to eight points - its largest margin of the game - immediately after the break.

Chicago responded, sparked by Rose and Boozer, who combined to score 23 of the Bulls' 27 points in the third quarter. Chicago moved into the lead midway through the period with a 13-0 run, holding Washington scoreless for nearly 4 1/2 minutes.

Although the Wizards briefly regained the lead, Rose's free throws gave the Bulls the edge again at 68-67 with 2 minutes left in the third, and Chicago didn't relinquish the lead again.

Both teams had trouble scoring in the fourth quarter, with periods of 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 minutes where neither team recorded a point. The Bulls outscored Washington 14-10 in the final period.

Rashard Lewis made his first appearance for the Wizards since being traded from Orlando in the deal that sent Gilbert Arenas to the Magic. Lewis had a relatively quiet night off the bench, finishing with eight points and five fouls.

NOTES: Bulls F Taj Gibson played for the first time since sustaining a concussion against the Clippers on Saturday, although he saw action for only the final 30 seconds of the first half. ... Young has scored at least 20 points in five straight games, the longest such stretch of his career. ... Several members of the University of Maryland football team watched the game as part of the festivities prior to their appearance in Washington's Military Bowl. ... The Wizards had three second-half technicals, as Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee and coach Flip Saunders were all whistled for arguing foul calls.