Chicago 99, Oklahoma City 90: In his fourth game back from injury, Carlos Boozer scored a season-high 29 points – including 14-of-14 from the line – as the Bulls improved to 11-8. It won’t be fair to render a verdict on the Rose-Noah frontline until at least mid-January. The Rose vs. Westbrook matchup that looks terrific on paper never really happened, as both struggled offensively, turning the ball over early and often. Rose did hit a halfcourt shot, though.

New York 121, Minnesota 114: Amare scored 34 points – that’s five straight games over 30 – and the Knicks improved to a staggering 13-9. Shawne Williams is becoming an assassin off the bench – he scored 13 points, his third straight game in double figures, and he’s a Matt Bonner-like 10-of-12 from three in those contests. Kevin Love, who collected 33 rebounds in the previous game against the Knicks, went for 33-15 last night.

Miami 88, Milwaukee 78: That’s five in a row for the Heat. It’s almost like they’re padding their victory total against bottom feeders! (Like the Jets!) Maybe the Lakers will beat them by 40 on Christmas the way the Pats beat down the Jets last night. D Wade scored 25 points and took 14 boards. VCU rookie Larry Sanders started inside for Milwaukee for the fifth straight game and scored 10 points to go with this alley-oop dunk.

Orlando 74, Atlanta 80: Can the Magic chalk this one up to Jameer Nelson’s stomach virus? The Hawks, without Joe Johnson, got 19-13 from Josh Smith and 16-10 from Al Horford in winning their sixth in seven games.

Utah 94, Memphis 85: No word on how long Grizzlies rookie Greivis Vazquez will be out after Deron Williams broke his ankles last night.