- (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose scored 26 points and Drew Gooden hauled in 20 rebounds, as Chicago pulled away late to beat Memphis, 96-86, at United Center. Kirk Hinrich added 18 points for the Bulls, who have won two of three to open the season. Luol Deng and Ben Gordon chipped in 11 points apiece in the win.

Rudy Gay scored 20 points to pace the Grizzlies, who have dropped two of three to open the season. Hakim Warrick added 18 points and O.J. Mayo 16 in defeat. Kyle Lowry gave 12 points in the loss.

Darko Milicic and Mayo hit a basket each, before Gordon nailed a three, and Warrick had a dunk to pull Memphis within 78-76 with 10:53 left in regulation.

With the Bulls still up by two 3 1/2 minutes later, Gordon went 2-for-2 from the line, Rose had a dunk and Gooden drained a jumper -- countered only by a 1-of-2 performance by Milicic at the line -- that made it 87-80.

"All I'm trying to do is win the game," said Rose. "If that takes me scoring 20 some points or five points, it doesn't matter as long as we win."

Following a timeout, Hinrich hit a free throw after a technical foul on Warrick. Gooden then blocked Mayo on a layup attempt at the other end and Lowry was called for a flagrant foul on Rose, who hit both from the line to make it 90-80 with 4:15 left to play.

The 10-point lead was Chicago's biggest to that point and lasted to the end of the game.

"I think they wanted it a little bit more than us," said Mayo. "Their offensive rebounds really hurt us. It was a team effort on their help but we need to learn how to finish games."

The teams played to a 19-19 tie after 12 minutes of basketball, but the Grizzlies took a 50-42 lead into the intermission.

The teams battled neck-and-neck in the third quarter. The lead went back-and- forth before a Warrick jumper and a pair from the charity stripe by Lowry tied it up at 66 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining prior to the fourth.

Moments later, Lowry again went 2-for-2 from the line to give the Grizzlies a 70-69 lead. However, Gordon connected on a pair of baskets that bookended a 2-for-2 performance by Aaron Gray, and Chicago went into the final stanza ahead 75-70.

Game Notes

The Bulls outrebounded the Grizzlies, 51-43...Chicago shot 38 percent from the field and Memphis 43 percent...Chicago's Tyrus Thomas tied a career-high with five blocks...The home team has won eight straight and 15 of the past 17 times in this series...The Bulls play at Orlando on Monday, while the Grizzlies host Golden State on Monday.





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