Derrick Rose by any other name is still a strong MVP candidate

MILWAUKEE — At this point, those "M-V-P!" chants even follow Derrick Rose when he and the Chicago Bulls go on the road.

The way Rose stole a game from the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday certainly made him seem worthy.

Rose orchestrated a stunning 12-0 run by Chicago in the final three minutes, rallying the Bulls for a 95-87 victory.

"The worst thing you can do is give me confidence no matter what I'm doing," Rose said. "If I get any type of confidence, it's going to be hard to stop me."

A large, loud contingent of traveling Bulls fans made Rose feel at home, chanting "M-V-P!" as the final seconds ran out — just as they did throughout the game.

Rose finished with 30 points and a career-high 17 assists. And while the way he took over the game at the end was jaw-dropping, his passing was just as impressive.

With Chicago trailing 87-83 after four straight free throws by Carlos Delfino, Rose hit a pair of free throws and then fed Joakim Noah for a fast-break dunk to tie it.

With the Bucks bobbling the ball on offense, Rose hit three straight shots in the final two minutes, then handed off to Ronnie Brewer for a game-clinching fast-break layup.

Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago, while Noah scored 12 with 11 rebounds.

John Salmons scored 25 for Milwaukee but shot 0-for-5 the fourth quarter. Delfino added 23 for the Bucks.

HAWKS 98, NETS 87: At Atlanta, the Hawks took control with 19 straight points early in the game and clinched a playoff spot by beating New Jersey.

Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, including six straight points late in the game to fend off a comeback attempt by New Jersey. Josh Smith added 22 points for the Hawks, who are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Atlanta lost five-time All-Star guard Joe Johnson with a strained right thumb in the third quarter.

Anthony Morrow had 25 points for the Nets, who have lost six of seven.

BOBCATS 114, KNICKS 106: At Charlotte, N.C., Boris Diaw scored 20 points, Stephen Jackson added 19 despite a sore hamstring, and the Bobcats provided more misery for slumping New York with a victory to complete an impressive two-day stretch.

A night after a stunning comeback win in Boston, the Bobcats sent the Knicks to their sixth straight loss despite 36 points from Carmelo Anthony to remain in contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks are 7-12 since acquiring Anthony and Chauncey Billups last month.

PISTONS 100, PACERS 88: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Richard Hamilton scored 23 points and Detroit held off Indiana.

Brandon Rush scored 19 points for the Pacers.

CLIPPERS 94, RAPTORS 90: At Los Angeles, Blake Griffin had 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Kaman added 17 points and 12 boards, and the L.A. Clippers beat Toronto. The Clippers had lost their previous five meetings with the Raptors by an average of 17.4 points.

Eric Gordon, who missed his first 11 shots in Friday's 112-104 loss to the Lakers, had 17 points after getting into early foul trouble, and Mo Williams finished with just nine points after scoring a season-high 30 against the two-time defending champions.