Gasol, Rose lead Bulls past Celtics

CHICAGO – Pau Gasol had 17 points and 18 rebounds and Derrick Rose scored 18 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Boston Celtics, 101-92, on Thursday for their sixth straight victory.

The Bulls used a big third quarter to extend their longest win streak of the season and hand the Celtics their fourth loss in five games.

Gasol had his 19th double-double of the season in front of fellow Spaniard Placido Domingo, who was in town to perform and would later have dinner with the basketball star.

Jimmy Butler added 19 points and 10 assists for the Bulls.

Jae Crowder scored 17 points to lead Boston, which was without coach Brad Stevens, who was visiting a cancer-stricken former player from his time as a university coach.

In other games, Sacramento blew a 27-point second-half lead, then rallied late to top the Los Angeles Lakers, 118-115, in Kobe Bryant’s last game in the California capital.

DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Rajon Rondo hit the go-ahead basket to lead the Kings to victory.

Bryant scored 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, but was on the bench for the night by the time the Lakers made a huge comeback to take the lead down the stretch.

In Houston, James Harden scored 33 points to lead the Rockets to their second victory over Utah in four days, 103-94.

The Rockets won, 93-91, Monday in Salt Lake City, thanks to 30 points from Harden. He has scored at least 30 in three of his last four games.

Playing without Dwight Howard, who sat out with lower back tightness, the Rockets beat the Jazz for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings.

Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore scored 22 points and Paul Millsap and Al Horford had 18 apiece as the Hawks blew out Philadelphia, 126-98, to end a two-game losing streak.

Atlanta shot 54 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range against the NBA’s worst team.