The Bulls are one game ahead of the Cavaliers for the NBA's worst record and begin a tough two-game trip Friday against the Wizards. Sunday brings a matchup with the Eastern Conference-best Raptors.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers has often complained about the schedule given to his team by the NBA, but there was nothing to grouse about Wednesday afternoon, two hours before his team tipped off against Sacramento at Staples Center.
Lou Williams scored 24 points, Montrezl Harrell added 22 and the Los Angeles Clippers nearly squandered a 27-point lead before holding off the hard-charging Sacramento Kings for a 127-118 victory.
Derrick Rose had 24 points and eight assists in just his second career game in the United Center against his former team, lifting the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 119-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Joe Harris made the tiebreaking layup with 3.4 seconds left in the second overtime and finished with a season-high 27 points, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Charlotte Hornets 134-132.
Thaddeus Young scored 21 points, Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans each added 19, and the Indiana Pacers won their third straight game with a 129-121 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Devin Booker scored 35 points and T.J. Warren added 24 points, including all four Phoenix points in overtime, as the Suns defeated the Orlando Magic 122-120 Wednesday night.
Blake Griffin had 23 points and nine rebounds, Andre Drummond got his 10th straight double-double, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 106-95.
It was a good run while it lasted – both the five-game winning streak the Miami Heat entered with and the aggressive start that had them up by 17 points at one stage Wednesday night.
Derrick Rose never wanted to leave the Bulls, who traded him in June 2016 before the 2011 most valuable player could fulfill his oft-stated goal of leading his hometown franchise to an NBA championship.
