Bulls Vs. Hawks: Al Horford Leads Amazing Atlanta Comeback As Derrick Rose Is Stifled

Read More: Al Horford (C - ATL), Derrick Rose (G - CHI), Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, Mar 2, 2011 7:00 PM EST

The Chicago Bulls ripped out to a 14-0 lead against the Atlanta Hawks as "M-V-P" chants for Derrick Rose (a Bull) ripped through Philips Arena (the Hawks' gym). But Al Horford had enough of that, and Atlanta eventually came back to secure a 83-80 in the defensive struggle.

The Bulls led by as many as 19 in the first half, which is usually all she wrote in low-scoring games. Rose had 10 points and seven assists at halftime, but Kirk Hinrich and Joe Johnson shut him down in the second half. In the third and fourth quarters, Rose shot 1-11 for two points and had six turnovers. Rose's ineffectiveness and Al Horford's burst of power were the biggest factors in Atlanta getting back into the game.

Horford had 22 points on 9-12 shooting and seven rebounds in the second half alone. He thoroughly outplayed his college teammate Joakim Noah (who was solid with 13 points and 12 rebounds). No Horford basket was more important than his pick-and-roll finish with 29 seconds left to give Atlanta its first lead of the game.