LOS ANGELES — Luol Deng had 23 points and nine rebounds, rookie Derrick Rose added 21 points and six assists, and the Chicago Bulls blew open a close game in the third quarter to beat the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 95-75 Wednesday night, snapping a season-high five-game losing streak.
Tyrus Thomas had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Ben Gordon had 11 points and a season-high eight assists, and Joakim Noah added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls (19-27), who outscored the Clippers 26-9 in the third quarter to take a 20-point lead.
By beating the Clippers for the third straight time, after losing 13 of the previous 15 games between the teams, the Bulls avoided their longest losing streak since early in the 2006-07 season. Chicago has won six of its last 19 games.
Rookie Eric Gordon had 19 points and seven assists to match a career high, Fred Jones added 11 points and Al Thornton had 10 points and six rebounds for the Clippers (10-35), who shot under 40 percent for the 13th time this season while losing for the 17th time in 19 games.
Baron Davis and Marcus Camby returned to action for the Clippers, with Davis getting three points and four assists while shooting 1-of-10. Camby had six points and six rebounds. Davis missed 13 games with a bruised tailbone and Camby five with a sprained ankle.
But Zach Randolph (sore knee), Chris Kaman (strained arch), Mardy Collins (strained calf) and rookie Mike Taylor (broken thumb) remain sidelined.
The Bulls shot 47.4 percent to 36 percent for Los Angeles and outrebounded the Clippers 52-33.
Rose scored four points during an 11-2 run to begin the third quarter to give the Bulls a 58-46 lead, and the Clippers didn’t threaten after that. It was 73-53 entering the final period.
DeAndre Jordan outscored the Bulls 6-1 by himself early in the fourth quarter, moving the Clippers within 15 points. But Thomas scored six straight points to make it 83-62 with six minutes to play.
The Clippers outscored Chicago 10-2 to tie the game at 29. Neither team led by more than six points during the remainder of the half, which ended with the Bulls on top 47-44.
Deng shot 6-of-9 for 13 points and Rose went 4-of-6 for eight points to help the Bulls take a 24-19 first-quarter lead. Their teammates shot a combined 1-for-9.
Notes: The game was the second of a seven-game road trip for the
Bulls. The Clippers begin a seven-game road trip Friday night in Cleveland. … Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said the team has no plans to make a trade before the deadline next month. “We think they can be one of the best front lines in basketball,” he said regarding Kaman, Randolph, Camby and Thornton. Kaman, Camby and Randolph won’t play at the same time because they’re power forwards or centers. “Thirty-two minutes apiece isn’t a bad number,” the coach said regarding the trio. … Thornton, Gordon and Rose were picked to play on All-Star Weekend in the game matching rookies and second-year players. … Chicago’s Drew Gooden missed his fourth game with a strained left groin. … Jones’ second 10-day contract expired after the game. Dunleavy said Jones will be signed for the rest of the season.
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