USA - Deng leads Bulls charge

NEW YORK (NBA) - Luol Deng scored 30 points as the Chicago Bulls coasted to a 106-89 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

Four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace also chipped in with 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, while Andres Nocioni added 21 for Chicago, who remain undefeated in 13 home games against the Eastern Conference team.

Deng scored six points during a 10-4 surge in the third quarter giving Chicago a 68-53 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining as the Bulls outscored the Pistons 29-20 in the period.

In the fourth quarter, reserve Ben Gordon converted a rare four point play at the 11:45 mark as the Bulls extended the advantage to 88-66.

Richard Hamilton scored 27 points and Nazr Mohammed added 15 for the Pistons, who shot 34% (31-of-89) from the floor and fell to 2-8 when allowing over 100 points.

Chicago now trail first place Detroit by just half a game in the central division.

Joe Johnson rediscovered his form with 27 points as the Atlanta Hawks recorded an 86-74 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers to end a six-game losing streak at the Philips Arena.

Zaza Pachulia also scored a season high 22 points for Atlanta, who won at home for the first time since beating Charlotte at the end of November.

Johnson scored 16 points in the first half as the Hawks survived a scoreless stretch of nearly five minutes to hold a 42-36 half-time lead over the Clippers.

Johnson's three-point play gave Atlanta their largest lead at 60-48 with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter before LA finally closed to 64-61 on a bucket by Thomas to open the final period.

Atlanta's Marvin Williams then sank two foul shots in the fourth quarter to stop a run by the Clippers, drained a three-pointer which beat the shot clock and made a pass to Pachulia for a three point play and a 77-67 lead with 3:25 remaining.

LeBron James collected 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth straight game with a 96-91 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

James had finished with a season low eight points on just 3-of-13 shooting in Friday's win at Milwaukee, but on Saturday made 9-of-21 shots.

James fed Zydrunas Ilgauskas for a score before adding a breakaway dunk, giving Cleveland an 87-83 edge with 3:25 remaining.

Richard Jefferson's three-pointer reduced the deficit to 93-91 with nine seconds remaining, but Cleveland's Drew Gooden made 3-of-4 free throws to seal the win.

Jermaine O'Neal scored nine points in the fourth quarter and Jamaal Tinsley made a pair of clutch shots as the Indiana Pacers snapped a two-game slide with a 100-93 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Deron Williams had 28 points and 12 assists as the Utah Jazz inflicted a fifth successive defeat on Denver Nuggets with a 96-84 result.

Zach Randolph contributed 32 points and 15 rebounds and Brandon Roy scored a season high 23 points as the Portland Trail Blazers ended a four-game losing streak with a 110-105 overtime triumph over the Sacramento Kings.

And Baron Davis had 22 points and 11 assists and Monta Ellis scored 20 points off the bench as the Golden State Warriors posted a 108-104 over the Seattle SuperSonics.

PA Sport