Cavaliers lose 16th straight contest

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Derrick Rose scored 24 points, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 92-79 victory Saturday night that extended the Cleveland Cavaliers’ losing streak to 16 games.

Cleveland (8-35) has also lost 20 straight on the road, one shy of the franchise record. The Cavs last won away from Quicken Loans Arena on Nov. 9, with a 93-91 victory over New Jersey. They haven’t won anywhere since a home win over the Knicks on Dec. 18.

Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng scored 20 points apiece for Chicago, which blew most of a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter before pulling away again.

Cleveland held the Bulls to four points in first 7:02 of the fourth quarter, closing within two on a runner by Antawn Jamison with 4:37 to play. Chicago didn’t make a field goal in the period until Rose’s layup with 4:20 left.

Rose was fouled on the play and his free throw put Chicago up 80-75. One possession later, Kyle Korver hit his third 3-pointer of the game, pushing the lead to eight points.

Boozer’s three-point play and Rose’s jumper pushed the run to 11-0. Cleveland got no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Cleveland lost 21 straight on the road from Jan. 13 to April 4, 2003. The Cavaliers ended up with the first pick in the draft that year after winning the NBA lottery. They used that selection to take LeBron James.

The Cavaliers have lost 26 of their last 27 games since starting the season 7-9.

Chicago led by as many 20 points, but the Cavaliers mounted a rally in the second half of the third quarter, closing within seven points. But Rose hit a layup and Deng a 3-pointer, putting Chicago up 72-60.