Rose's 39 helps Bulls overcome 21-point deficit
Before the start of the Bulls' home opener, injured forward Carlos Boozer grabbed the microphone and told fans at the United Center, “Keep supporting us, because we're going to have a monster year.”
Well, he was on target with the horror theme, but an actual monster year seemed far-fetched until the Bulls rose from the dead and provided a shocking ending.
Led by 39 points from Derrick Rose, which tied a career-high, the Bulls outscored the Pistons 34-9 in the fourth quarter and pulled off an improbable 101-91 victory.
“It's a long game,” center Joakim Noah said. “It just shows the character of this team. We're not going to back down. We've just got to be mentally tough.”
The Bulls fell behind by 20 points during a nightmarish first half against Detroit on Saturday. They piled up another huge deficit in free-throw attempts (23-5), while watching former teammate Ben Gordon scorch the nets for 21 points without missing a shot.
By halftime, the Bulls' season deficit in free-throw attempts was an alarming 70-27, including the opening night loss in Oklahoma.
“I just feel like we were playing timid and weren't playing very smart,” Noah said. “We just can't be putting teams like that at the free-throw line. I think we're too good defensively and we're just letting them off the hook with silly reaches.”
The home team closed the gap slightly but trailed by 15 at the end of the third quarter after a late turnover led to a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Charlie Villanueva.
It seemed to be a moral victory when Kyle Korver's 3-pointer finally sliced the deficit to single digits with 7:55 remaining. That's when the Bulls stepped on the gas, adding a layup by Taj Gibson, 3 free throws, then a corner 3-pointer by James Johnson to tie the game at 86-86 with 5:03 left.
The Pistons (0-3) took one last lead on a Richard Hamilton jumper before the Bulls answered with a foul-line bank shot by Gibson and a tip-in by Noah to take the lead with 2:38 on the clock. While Detroit kept missing, Rose added 2 free throws, then a pair of dunks by Gibson and Johnson settled the outcome. Gordon didn't score in the second half.
Inside the locker room, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose presented him with a game ball to commemorate his first victory as an NBA head coach. Thibodeau showed no alarm that Rose has averaged 33.5 points and 29 shots per game so far.
“He's gotten to the point now where he can kind of figure out the game,” Thibodeau said. “Whatever is needed for us to win, he's going to try to provide.”
“I'm just taking the shots they give me,” Rose shrugged. “They're giving me wide-open shots, I'm going to take them. They give me wide-open lanes, I'm going to drive them. My teammates give me the confidence to do that.”
Thibodeau stuck with several bench players during the comeback. James Johnson played the entire fourth quarter and piled up 9 rebounds, 8 points, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Omer Asik and Brian Scalabrine also saw considerable playing time.
“(Johnson) and Omer provided a big spark for us,” Thibodeau said. “That's what got us going in the second half.”
Mike McGraw's game tracker
Bulls 101, Pistons 91
Turning point obvious: The Bulls were in a world of trouble, then outscored Detroit 34-9 in the fourth quarter to escape with a win in the home opener. Derrick Rose matched his career high with 39 points.
Johnson a super sub: Forward James Johnson didn't play at all against Oklahoma City. With the Bulls struggling Saturday, he played the entire fourth quarter in place of Luol Deng to finish with 9 rebounds, 8 points and 3 blocks.
Separate ways: Asked in the locker room if he planned to help Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau celebrate his first win, Joakim Noah replied, “Does Thibodeau look like he'd want to hang out with me?”