Bulls 103, Knicks 90
NEW YORK — Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls tied San Antonio for the NBA's best record, overwhelming the New York Knicks to start the second half on Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory.
Rose scored 26 points for the Bulls, who opened the third quarter with a 26-2 spurt over the first 7-plus minutes and improved to 61-20. Luol Deng added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 22 boards as Chicago outrebounded New York 51-33.
The Bulls, already assured the best record in the Eastern Conference, tied San Antonio for the best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The tiebreakers are all even, so a random drawing would be held if they finish with the same record as the Spurs, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Just in case he still needed to, Rose put on a show for the MVP voters watching the nationally televised game, shooting 10 of 19 and throwing down a few crowd-pleasing dunks.
Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points for the Knicks who had their seven-game winning streak snapped. Locked into the No. 6 seed and a first-round matchup with Boston, New York rested Amare Stoudemire for the third straight game, though his sprained left ankle was well enough to play. Stoudemire might sit again Wednesday when the Knicks close the regular season at Boston in a playoff preview.
Lakers 102, Spurs 93
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and Los Angeles snapped their five-game losing streak at a potentially high cost, losing center Andrew Bynum to a hyperextended right knee in a victory over San Antonio.
The Lakers' hopes for a third straight NBA title might have taken a significant blow when Bynum fell to the court after stepping on DeJuan Blair's foot during the second period. The shot-blocking 7-footer will have an MRI on Wednesday while the Lakers wrap up the regular season at Sacramento.
Lamar Odom scored 23 points as the Lakers struggled to hold off the Spurs, who rested stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with the Western Conference's top seed already wrapped up.
Gary Neal scored 16 points and Matt Bonner had 13 for the Spurs, whose four-game winning streak ended.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't worry about falling into a tie with surging Chicago for the NBA's best overall record, yet his junior varsity nearly knocked off the discombobulated Lakers, who couldn't breathe easily until Bryant's 3-pointer put them up 96-88 with 2:55 to play.
The Lakers will get the No. 2 seed in the West with a win at Sacramento or a loss by Dallas.
Trail Blazers 102, Grizzlies 89
PORTLAND, Ore. — LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Portland locked up the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a victory over Memphis.
The Blazers, who won their third straight, will have to wait until the regular season's final games Wednesday night to learn their opponent for the first round of the playoffs.
Memphis, which played without starters Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, was still jockeying for seeding. The Grizzlies and New Orleans are wrestling between the final two spots with just one game to play apiece.
The Grizzlies visit the Clippers while the Hornets are at Dallas on Wednesday night. Portland wraps up the regular season at Golden State.
Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 17 points.
