Salt Lake City, UT (SportsNetwork.com) - Two key players returned to the Chicago starting lineup Monday night, but the Bulls had to hold on for a 97-95 win over the Utah Jazz.
Derrick Rose was back after missing four games with a strained left hamstring and scored 18 points. Pau Gasol totaled 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals after missing three games with a strained left calf.
Gasol was fouled after Chicago won a jump ball and made 1-of-2 free throws to give the Bulls a two-point lead with 3.2 seconds remaining.
The Bulls, who led by as many as 21, escaped EnergySolutions Arena with a win when Gordon Hayward missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer.
"It was a great look. It's a shot I'm capable of hitting. We just dug ourselves a hole," Hayward said.
Jimmy Butler scored 25 points to lead the Bulls, who snapped a two-game skid and improved to 2-2 on their seven-game road trip.
"I thought we were loose in the second half. (We) Found a way to win in the end," said Chicago head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Derrick Favors had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for Utah, which has dropped three games in a row. Trey Burke also posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists.
Rose and Gasol combined for 18 points in a strong first quarter for Chicago, which opened the game on a 9-0 run and led 30-14 after 12 minutes.
Tony Snell knocked down a 3-pointer to stretch the Bulls' advantage to 43-22 with 7:01 to play in the second quarter.
The Jazz trailed 56-41 at halftime, but shot a sizzling 71.4 percent in the third quarter. They outscored the Bulls 36-22 and entered the fourth quarter down 78-77.
Trevor Booker hit an alley-oop layup to give Utah its first lead at 80-78.
It remained a one-possession game until a Favors layup made it 91-87 with 3:30 left. Rose put the Bulls back in front 94-93 with a three-point play, but a running dunk by Enes Kanter put the Jazz up 95-94 with 1:37 remaining.
Mike Dunleavy hit a layup after Alec Burks blocked Butler's shot and the Bulls led 96-95 with 22.5 seconds left.
A missed jumper by Favors triggered a scramble and the jump ball that Chicago won.
Game Notes
Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks both scored 10 points off the bench for Chicago ... Hayward made only 2-of-11 field goal attempts and finished with six points ... Kanter had 19 points and eight rebounds ... The Jazz outscored the Bulls 48-42 in the paint and held a 41-35 rebounding edge.
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