CHICAGO — Guard E’Twaun Moore matched a career high with 24 points, and the Chicago Bulls outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers for a 126-115 win Sunday night.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose scored 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished six assists. Center Pau Gasol added 21 points and seven rebounds for Chicago (29-26).
Lakers forward Kobe Bryant scored 22 points on 8-for-20 shooting in his final game at the United Center. Forward Julius Randle scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
Los Angeles (11-46) lost its fifth straight game and fell to 4-40 when allowing 100-plus points.
An 18-4 run by the Lakers trimmed the deficit to 110-107 with 4:46 to go in the fourth quarter. Chicago closed the game on a 16-8 run to earn its second consecutive victory.
Chicago built a 97-81 lead at the end of the third quarter. Moore helped the Bulls pull away late in the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers and a fast-break slam dunk.
Bryant made four consecutive fade-away jump shots over Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy to open the second half. Bryant’s fourth straight basket evened the score at 66 with 9:30 left in the third quarter, but the Bulls responded with a 14-4 run to gain a double-digit lead.
Chicago held a 62-58 advantage at halftime. The Bulls made seven of nine shots from beyond the arc in the first half, including a trio of 3-pointers by rookie forward Bobby Portis. Randle kept the Lakers close by scoring 15 points before the break.
Gasol scored 10 points in 12 minutes to help Chicago grab a 31-30 lead after the first quarter. Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell sparked a 7-0 run with a jump shot and a layup to narrow the deficit.
The Bulls finished the game shooting 13 of 19 from beyond the arc and 25 of 26 from the free-throw line. Los Angeles shot seven of 21 from beyond the arc and 22 of 33 from the free-throw line.
NOTES: Lakers F Kobe Bryant said he felt well enough to play after dislocating his right middle finger two days earlier against San Antonio. “The tip of my finger is a little numb, but I feel the ball pretty well, still,” Bryant said before playing his final game in Chicago. … Bulls G Jimmy Butler (left knee strain) is feeling better and could test his injured leg during drills this week, coach Fred Hoiberg said. Butler remains at least a couple weeks from returning to games. … Lakers G D’Angelo Russell returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 12. … Bulls F Nikola Mirotic remains several weeks away from returning as he recovers from surgeries to remove his appendix and a hematoma. “I know he’s still down about 10 pounds, so that’s an issue,” Hoiberg said.