A game removed from an ankle tweaking that had Chicago fans concerned, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose rebounded with perhaps the best game of his young career. The reigning MVP put up a career-best 44 points in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Bulls beat the Hawks by a 99-82 score.
Bulls Vs. Hawks, Final Score: Derrick Rose Scores Career-High 44 Points As Chicago Rolls, 99-82
Rose scored his 44 points within 38 minutes on the court, shooting 16-for-27 with four three-pointers. He also dished seven assists and pulled down five rebounds. Joakim Noah was terrific in a supporting role; though he only scored two points, he was good for 15 rebounds and five blocks in a huge defensive effort.
The Hawks couldn’t find an answer for either man, as Rose’s shots kept falling and Noah’s presence made inside scoring a tough undertaking. Jeff Teague added 21 points and Josh Smith added 17, but the Hawks were out-rebounded 47-34, and center Al Horford wasn’t a serious scoring threat until the game was effectively out of reach.
The Bulls now lead the best-of-seven series, two games to one. Game 4 will tip off in Atlanta at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.
For more on these teams, check out SB Nation’s Bulls blog, Blog a Bull, and our Hawks blog, Peachtree Hoops.
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