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Smooth Performance of the Night: Rose gets his groove back

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The talk surrounding Derrick Rose coming into Game 3 of the Chicago Bulls second-round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers was the fact that he hadn't visited the foul line in three games - the longest stretch of his six-year career.

And while he remedied that by taking 10 free throws in the Bulls' 96-93 victory Friday night, the bigger highlight was the long, buzzer-beating banking three that gave Chicago that win.

Rose has always been a hero in his hometown, and after the victory that put the Bulls up 2-1 over the Cavs in the series, he's the king of Chicago once more.

The trey with time expiring was the first game-winning shot in the final 10 seconds of a postseason game by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan's famous jumper over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Rose finished the night with a game-high 30 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. While he only shot 10-of-26, his one three-pointer on a rather low three attempts was the one that counted most. The flip side is he drove the basket more in Game 3, although he had some issues finishing.

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