Bulls keep Central lead; Kings score

CHICAGO—Derrick Rose scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Denver Nuggets, 106-101, on Thursday night to maintain its stranglehold on the Central division.

Jimmy Butler scored 26 for Chicago, and Pau Gasol added 17 points, nine rebounds and a career-high nine blocks as the Bulls stretched its lead over Cleveland to 4 1/2 games.

The late surge by Rose lifted the Bulls to their 11th win in 13 games. The 2011 NBA MVP missed his first eight shots, including all seven in a scoreless first half, but the point guard dominated down the stretch, coming up with one big basket after another.

Wilson Chandler led Denver with 22 points.  Ty Lawson scored 20 and Kenneth Faried added 18 points and 19 rebounds, but the Nuggets fell to 4-12 on the road.

Chicago, which trailed by 13 early in the third, was clinging to a 100-97 lead after Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic scored on a layup with 46 seconds left.

Rose then nailed a jumper, and the Bulls hung on after Faried dunked with 22 seconds remaining to get the Nuggets within three again. Chicago’s Aaron Brooks hit two free throws to make it a five-point game before Nurkic hit two of his own after he got fouled trying to dunk on Taj Gibson with 11 seconds left. But Rose then hit two more foul shots to make it 106-101.

The Bulls were trailing 74-70 late in the third when Gasol blocked Nurkic. Butler then got fouled and hit two free throws, sparking a nine-point run.

Kirk Hinrich nailed a three from the corner with 16 seconds left, giving the Bulls a three-point lead, and Gasol capped the run with a running hook to make it 79-74.

Kings outlast Timberwolves

At Minneapolis, Rudy Gay had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, and the struggling Sacramento Kings handed the Minnesota Timberwolves their 10th straight loss with a 110-107 victory.

DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and seven rebounds after being ejected one night earlier, and the Kings shot 54 percent while each of their starters scored in double figures. Darren Collison scored 21 points and Derrick Williams had 17 points, including a big 3-pointer down the stretch.

Andrew Wiggins had 27 points and nine rebounds, but the Timberwolves couldn’t take advantage when Cousins and Gay both fouled out in the fourth quarter. Troy Daniels’ 3-point attempt at the buzzer was partially blocked.

Back, knee injuries sideline LeBron

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is expected to miss at least the next two weeks with injuries to his left knee and back.

The timing of the injuries is another blow to the Cavaliers, who have been jarred by a rash of medical issues and failed to live up to the enormous expectations triggered by James re-signing as a free agent with Cleveland last summer.

The team said on Thursday that James has knee and back strains. He’ll be treated with “anti-inflammatories, rehabilitation, training room treatments and rest,” and the Cavs projected he will miss two weeks. If he’s out for just that span, James will be back for a Jan. 15 game in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

James, who turned 30 on Dec. 30, missed his second straight game on Wednesday. Before his team lost 96-80 to Milwaukee, the four-time league MVP said all tests on his knee had come back negative.

He acknowledged his knee has been hurting all year and admitted that 11 NBA seasons have taken a toll on his body.

“I’ve got 41,000 minutes on me, including the playoffs,” he joked. “You drive that car in the winter time.”   AP