Derrick Rose scored 25 points, Pau Gasol added 21 and the Bulls led from the start in a 99-92 victory over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.
Rose, who suffered a shoulder stinger in the closing minute, helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs. Cleveland was missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but its bigger issue was not stopping Rose or his pick-and-roll plays with Gasol.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out. Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, and LeBron James added 19 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland.