Derrick Rose lifts Chicago Bulls past LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers

The Chicago Bulls withstood a LaMarcus Aldridge onslaught in the first quarter, got on a huge run early in the second and then kept the Portland Trail Blazers at bay the rest of the way.

Derrick Rose scored a season-high 31 points to go with five assists and the Bulls defeated the Blazers 115-106 on Friday night.

Aldridge netted an NBA season-high 21 first-quarter points to help Portland to the early lead, but the Bulls went on a 16-2 surge in the second and never trailed the rest of the way.

Aaron Brooks and Nikola Mirotic deposited 17 and 15 points off the bench, respectively, while Pau Gasol added 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Chicago, which has won three of its last four games.

Aldridge finished with 35 points and nine boards and Damian Lillard supplied a season-high 35 points to go with six helpers and five rebounds for the Blazers, who have dropped consecutive contests on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

After Portland got within 90-87 early in the fourth, a Brooks floater finished off an ensuing 10-2 flurry to give the Bulls a 100-89 lead and they were never seriously threatened again.

Brooks posted 14 points in the period.

Aldridge began 10-of-11 from the field and his one-footed stepback from the left wing staked Portland to a 28-21 advantage before heading into the second with a 28-24 cushion.

Mirotic, who poured in nine points during the burst to start the second, began it with four straight free throws, and consecutive 3-pointers by Brooks and Mirotic gave the Bulls a 40-30 margin.

Chicago headed into the locker room with a 59-51 spread.

Nicolas Batum jumpstarted a 10-0 Portland swing during the early to middle stages of the third with a jumper and added another one to cap it and pull the Blazers within 67-65.

The Bulls took an 82-78 edge into the final frame.

Game Notes

Dallas' Monta Ellis had the season-high total for a first quarter coming into Friday with 17. Cleveland's LeBron James had 19 points in the first of his game Friday against New Orleans ... This was Rose's first appearance against Portland since suffering his second major knee injury on Nov. 22, 2013 at Portland ... Aldridge had averaged 11 points per game in his last three games against Chicago heading in.

[SportsNetwork.com]