Orlando: The Chicago Bulls extended their winning streak to six games with a late run to pull away from the Orlando Magic 97-83 at the Amway Centre on Friday.

The Bulls held off a late push by the Magic that narrowed a 17-point lead to just three at 80-77 with six minutes left before dominating the end of the game.

Chicago's Kyle Korver hit two of his five three-pointers late in the game to stretch the winning margin.

Derrick Rose and Luol Deng led the Bulls attack with 21 points each, Carlos Boozer scored 20 and Korver had 18 off the bench. Rose also had ten assists and Boozer pulled down 13 rebounds to record double-doubles.

"I thought he [Rose] had a really good command of the game," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He did a great job of play-making and when he needed to score, he scored."

Dwight Howard scored 14 of his 28 points in the first quarter to keep the Magic close early, but the Bulls seized control of the game in the second quarter with Howard on the bench, building a ten-point lead at half time.

Howard also had 15 rebounds for a double-double and Jason Richardson added 17 points.

‘We're not at that level'

"Quite simply we're not at that level. Not close," Orlando coach Stan van Gundy said.

"And that's OK; I'm not saying that crying or complaining. That's just the way it is. You've got to face reality. We've got to put in the work to reach that level, because right now we're not close to that level of play."

Meanwhile, NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks signed Chinese forward Yi Jianlian on a one-year contract and assigned him to their developmental league affiliate the Texas Legends.

In an article on their website, the Legends said Yi will become the first NBA veteran to undergo his rehabilitation from injury in the D-League.

Yi, who had been in Dallas for several days and attended Mavericks home games as the deal was pending, said he hoped to regain full fitness and eventually join Dallas.

‘Excited to be back'

"I know I can contribute to the team," he said. "I am very excited to be back on the court. I joined a good team this season, with so many talented players, and that definitely will help me to improve myself. I wish the team will have a wonderful season. I have a lot of confidence in it."

Coach Rick Carlisle said he did not know how long it would be before Yi joined the Mavericks.

Yi will be coached at the Legends by Del Harris, who guided China's 2004 Olympic squad to an eighth-place showing in Athens.

The 24-year-old became a free agent after helping China qualify for a berth the 2012 London Olympics last year.

He averaged 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three Chinese league games but was hurt after a team mate fell on him.

In four NBA seasons with Milwaukee, New Jersey and Washington, Yi has averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time per game. Last season, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds for Washington.