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Derrick Rose’s buzzer-beating shot lifts Bulls past Cavaliers, 99-96

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) takes the game-winning shot over Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night in Chicago.

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) takes the game-winning shot over Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night in Chicago.

(Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
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Derrick Rose banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer and scored 30 points Friday night to give the Chicago Bulls a 99-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Cleveland had just tied the score on a three-pointer by J.R. Smith with 10.8 seconds left before Rose came through with the winner.

He took the inbounds pass from Mike Dunleavy Jr. on the sideline after Chicago called time with three seconds remaining. Rose then dribbled past the top of the key before burying a wild shot over Tristan Thompson, drawing a mob from his teammates and a deafening roar from the crowd.

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LeBron James scored 27 points for Cleveland and passed Tony Parker, Steve Nash and Larry Bird for fourth on the career playoff assists list. He had 14 in the game, giving him 1,073.

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