Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Ben Gordon posted 22 points, and double-doubles from Drew Gooden and Tyrus Thomas helped the Chicago Bulls hold on for a 98-86 win over the Washington Wizards.
Gooden finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Thomas had 16 and 10 for the Bulls, who won have back-to-back games following a three-game slide. Larry Hughes contributed 17 points, and Derrick Rose made up for a poor shooting performance (3-for-12) by dishing out nine assists.
Nick Young led Washington's comeback effort with 28 points on a stellar 12- for-15 effort from the floor, but the Wizards dropped their third straight game. Antawn Jamison recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds in the setback.
Early in the first quarter, a tie game was broken open by a 19-6 flurry from Chicago that featured three-pointers from Gordon and Thabo Sefolosha.
Chicago's 30-16 edge at the end of the first expanded to 52-34 at the break. Eight consecutive Washington points midway through the third helped the visitors get within 71-57 with 12 minutes remaining.
Young, who netted 18 points in the fourth, single-handedly brought the Wizards back into the game. His three-pointer, two free throws and tip-in off a Jamison miss cut the deficit to 89-80 with under 3 1/2 minutes remaining.
It was an eight-point game coming down the stretch, and Gooden came through for Chicago, as his putback off a Gordon missed three gave the hosts a 93-83 lead with under 90 ticks remaining, and the Wizards' comeback ran out of time.
