Rose scores 31, Bulls hold off big charge by Cavaliers for 108-106 victory in Game 3

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Bulls hang on to beat Cavaliers 108-106

CHICAGO — LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers can forget about sweeping the Bulls out of the playoffs.

Derrick Rose scored 31 points, Kirk Hinrich added 27 and Chicago hung to beat the top-seeded Cavaliers 108-106 Thursday night in Game 3 of their first-round series after watching a 21-point lead dwindle to one.

James scored 13 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter but also committed some turnovers down the stretch. Even so, the Cavaliers were within 107-106 after Mo Williams nailed a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left. They immediately fouled Chicago’s Luol Deng, who hit the first free throw but missed the second. Cleveland’s Anthony Parker got the rebound and raced up the right side but missed a 3 at the buzzer, and the Bulls escaped with the win.

They will try to tie the best-of-seven series on Sunday.

Eds: Bulls 108, Cavaliers 106. SUBS 3rd graf to CORRECT Williams hit 3.