Rose, Bulls beat Pacers, take 3-0 lead

Derrick Rose struggled all game long, but still found a way to be the difference-maker in the end.

Rose scored 23 points, including the go-ahead layup with 17.8 seconds left, to help the Chicago Bulls beat the host Indiana Pacers, 88-84, Thursday night and take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.

Rose's late basket was his only field goal in the second half. He made just 4 of 18 shots in the game as he was blanketed, and at times pummeled, by Indiana's Paul George and Dahntay Jones.

"It was a little rough out there, but it's basketball," he said. "They had something to prove."

Rose, guarded by Jones, drove left for the layup that gave the Bulls an 86-84 lead and sparked "MVP!" chants from the thousands of Bulls fans who made the three-hour drive.

Danny Granger had a chance to give the Pacers the lead, but his three-pointer missed, and Chicago's Ronnie Brewer rebounded. Brewer was fouled, and he made two free throws with 1.1 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

Heat 100, 76ers 94: Dwyane Wade had 32 points and 10 rebounds, LeBron James 24 points and 15 rebounds and visiting Miami took a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

Chris Bosh scored 19 points for the Heat, which rallied from an early 10-point deficit to move within one win of a sweep of the Eastern Conference series.

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

James hit the court hard late in the fourth quarter and briefly sat against the scorer's table. He grimaced when his teammates pulled him up and he slowly walked back to Miami's bench.

The 76ers were determined to win one on their home court and played like a team trying all it could to get the series back to Miami.

Elton Brand had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers. -- AP