Bulls outlast Pacers

By ANDREW SELIGMAN – The Associated Press

Created: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:55 p.m. CST

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Bulls forward Taj Gibson (left) fouls Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy as Murphy shoots during the first half Wednesday at the United Center. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP)

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CHICAGO – Luol Deng scored a season-high 31 points, and the Bulls escaped with a wild, 120-110, victory against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night after blowing an early 23-point lead.

Derrick Rose added 23 points, eight assists and nine rebounds as the Bulls won for the seventh time in nine games.

The Bulls led by 23 in the first quarter and were up 19 going into the second, only to watch it all disappear. Then, with a 58-54 halftime lead, they broke it open in the third and sent Indiana to its sixth loss in seven games.

The Pacers' Danny Granger missed his first five shots but finished with 20 points after missing Monday's loss at Dallas for personal reasons. Brandon Rush scored 12 of his season-high 21 in the second quarter.