By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — Derrick Rose looked to be cruising toward a much-needed easy night after a dominant first quarter put the Chicago Bulls up big on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ricky Rubio then made him work for everything he got the rest of the way and may have forced his way into Minnesota’s starting lineup in the process.
Rose scored a season-high 31 points and had 11 assists to outlast Rubio in a thrilling duel, leading the Bulls to a 111-100 victory over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
“The way it started off we thought it was going to be a good game,” said Rose, who played the entire second half after the Wolves erased a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. “It took another turn where we weren’t playing defense, they were knocking down their shots, executing their plays and we were really getting hurt.”
Luol Deng had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Kyle Korver scored 13 points off the bench for the Bulls, who appeared to be on their way to a blowout early before Rubio led the Wolves back with a 20-2 run at the end of the second quarter.
Rubio had 13 points, 12 assists and four rebounds. Luke Ridnour scored 22 points for the Timberwolves, who just couldn’t find an answer for Rose down the stretch.
The reigning MVP shrugged off a mid-game shooting slump to score on an explosion to the basket and then knocked down a little one-handed jumper for an eight-point lead with 2:30 to play.
“At the end we just found a way to win,” said Rose, whose Bulls are in the middle of a stretch of nine games in 12 days.
Kevin Love finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, but his shooting woes continued as he made 5 of 18. Anthony Randolph scored 18 points for the Wolves, who have played contenders Oklahoma City, Miami and Chicago tough only to lose in the end.
The Bulls outrebounded Minnesota 47-30 and Ronnie Brewer scored 17 points to help them to their eighth win in nine games. But Rose was the leader as usual, hitting 4 of 8 3-pointers.
“It happens a lot of times that we played and we are down and then it’s when we react,” Rubio said. “If we want to win, we have to start from the beginning.”
That may be happening sooner than later. Wolves coach Rick Adelman used Rubio off the bench through the first 10 games, but with the starting group digging big holes recently, a move could be coming as soon as Friday in New Orleans.
Starters Wes Johnson, Darko Milicic and Wayne Ellington all played fewer than 10 minutes on Tuesday night, with Adelman going for the energy of Rubio, Randolph, Anthony Tolliver and Derrick Williams. After the game, for the first time all season, Adelman didn’t rule out a change to the starting lineup.
“I have two days to think about it,” he said.
Rubio’s reputation grew when the Spaniard went up against Rose in international play, stripping him on two of the U.S.’ first three trips up the floor in an exhibition game.
The two electrifying point guards were neck-and-neck for the final three quarters. Rose had 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting with nine assists and three turnovers in the final 36 minutes while Rubio had 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting with 12 assists, four steals and four turnovers.
“Rubio played a hell of a game,” Rose said.
The Bulls knew the Wolves were playing their third game in three nights, and they came out firing. Rose scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first quarter and the Bulls hit 20 of their first 29 shots.
“He’s great,” Rubio said. “It’s hard to defense him. Maybe he’s one of the best, if not the best, player I’ve ever played against. … It’s hard to guard him. He’s the fastest guy I ever played.”
Rubio was magnificent during the half-closing surge, assisting or scoring on all but two of the 20 points. He set Love up for three 3-pointers, knocked down a jumper and a free throw and threw a one-handed lob to Randolph that sent the sellout crowd into a frenzy.
Rubio, Randolph and Tolliver started the second half as well, and Ridnour’s 3 tied the game at 70 with 3:45 to play in the third quarter.
The Bulls were able to hold on, and now will play Washington at home on Wednesday night trying to join the Thunder as teams to sweep three games in three nights.
MAVERICKS 100
PISTONS 86
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points, and Dallas reached the .500 mark by routing Detroit.
The defending champion Mavericks (5-5) started their NBA title defense slowly, losing four of their first five games, but they’ve bounced back. Tuesday’s win was their first on the road. Shawn Marion scored 14 points and Vince Carter added 11 for Dallas, which led by as many as 28 in the second half.
Will Bynum scored 20 points for Detroit. The Pistons (2-8) have lost five straight games, and this was actually the least lopsided of the bunch thanks to a late run.
76ERS 112, KINGS 85
PHILADELPHIA — Elton Brand had a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Philadelphia routed Sacramento for its sixth straight victory.
The Sixers are 7-2 and lead the Atlantic Division. It’s their best start since Allen Iverson helped them open 10-0 on their way to the NBA finals in 2000-01.
Rookie Jimmer Fredette scored seven points in his first start for Sacramento. Filling in for injured leading scorer Marcus Thornton shot 2 for 7. DeMarcus Cousins led the struggling Kings with 17 points.
Evan Turner had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Jrue Holiday added 17 for Philadelphia, which had six players reach double figures.
THUNDER 100
GRIZZLIES 95
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, Kevin Durant added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Oklahoma City won its fourth straight.
Thabo Sefolosha added 12 for Oklahoma City, hitting all four of his shots, including three outside the arc. James Harden finished with 10 points.
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Rudy Gay contributed 16 points, but was 7 of 21 from the field. Mike Conley had 15 points and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, who lost their third straight.
BUCKS 106, SPURS 103
MILWAUKEE — Stephen Jackson had 34 points and eight assists in his best game since joining Milwaukee in an offseason trade, leading the Bucks over San Antonio.
Milwaukee also got a big lift from the return of center Andrew Bogut, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds after missing four games to return home to Australia for an undisclosed personal issue.
The Bucks had lost five consecutive games.
Tony Parker scored 22 points for San Antonio, which has lost all four of its road games while winning all six of its home games.
Richard Jefferson’s tying 3-point attempt hit the back of the rim at the buzzer.
JAZZ 113, CAVS 105
SALT LAKE CITY — Al Jefferson scored a season-high 30 points and Paul Millsap added 19 and Utah defeated Cleveland.
It was Utah’s fifth straight win as the Jazz (6-3) improved to 5-0 at home.
The Jazz are off to their best start at home since beginning the 2008-09 season at 6-0.
The Cavs (4-5) fell to 1-3 on a seven-game road trip, and visit Phoenix, the L.A. Lakers and Charlotte next.
Antawn Jamison led Cleveland with 22 points, including 13 in the third quarter, as he tried to rally the Cavs.
WIZARDS 93, RAPTORS 78
WASHINGTON — Rashard Lewis and Nick Young each had 15 points to lead Washington to its first win after eight straight losses.
Andray Blatche had nine points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes. John Wall tied his season high with nine assists, but missed nine of 12 shots. In his past two games, Wall is 6 for 21 from the field.
Toronto, which was playing its second of three games in three nights, was led by Andrea Bargnani with 22 points.
ROCKETS 82, BOBCATS 70
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 20 points and Kevin Martin added 17 points and Houston defeated Charlotte to snap a four-game losing streak.
Jordan Hill had a double-double for the Rockets off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Rockets (3-6) broke open a tight game in the third quarter and the poor-shooting Bobcats could never put together a big run.