NEW YORK, April 11 (Ticker) -- Perhaps Tyson Chandler is too young to know he is supposed to be tired at this point of the season.

Chandler had 16 points, 15 rebounds and the go-ahead basket in overtime as the Chicago Bulls edged the New York Knicks, 104-101, for their third straight victory.

One of Chicago's "Twin Toddlers," Chandler played perhaps his best game of the season. The teenage rookie 7-footer appeared lost at the outset of the season but has come on strong with increased playing time over the last two months.

"Tonight he was solid," Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. "He blocked shots, rebounded, scored, did a terrific job."

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"He has faith in us to throw us in the starting lineup," Chandler said of Cartwright. "Early on (in the season) we weren't working as hard as we could. When you're a rookie, your body isn't ready for this kind of season."

Chandler also had six assists and three blocks, but his biggest play came after the Bulls had blown a four-point lead in overtime. His dunk gave Chicago the lead for good at 102-101 with 1:39 remaining.

The teams traded empty possessions before Eddy Curry, the other "Twin Toddler," contested a shot by New York's Allan Houston. At the other end, Curry was fouled with 12 seconds left and made both free throws.

The Bulls chased the ball out of Houston's hands and a 3-pointer by power forward Kurt Thomas clanged off the rim as time ran out.

"The high school kids are solid," Thomas admitted. "Chicago's bringing them along well. They have tremendous upside. The sky's the limit."

Big man Dalibor Bagaric also scored 16 points and Curry added 13 for the Bulls (20-59), who have won three in a row for the first time since February 20-23, their first three games after acquiring Jalen Rose from Indiana.

"We're tired and shorthanded and those young guys just came up big in the end," said Cartwright.

Also acquired in that deal was rookie guard Norman Richardson, a New York native who scored 10 points off the bench.

"He came in and gave us a lift when we needed it," Cartwright said. "It was a good homecoming for him."

Thomas had 26 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks (29-49), who lost the season series to the Bulls for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Houston, the team's best shooter, scored just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting.

New York, which has lost nine of its last 12 games, took a 96-94 lead with 31 seconds left on two free throws by Latrell Sprewell, who scored nine of his 11 points in the first half. Chicago tied it 14 seconds later on a weaving drive by Travis Best, who also came over in the Rose trade.

Houston missed badly on a drive and Chandler was shoved by Thomas on an alley-oop attempt just before the horn. No foul was called.

"We work on it all the time in practice," Chandler said. "When it was in the air there was no telling what could happen."

Rose and rookie Trenton Hassell had baskets to give Chicago a 100-96 lead midway through the extra session. Thomas scored and Mark Jackson, who had 19 points and 10 assists, hit a 3-pointer to give New York a 101-100 lead with 1:51 to go.

Rose and Jamal Crawford scored 14 points each and Hassell added 11 and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who shot 46 percent (40-of-87) from the field and held a 46-42 edge on the glass.

Clarence Weatherspoon and Charlie Ward scored 10 points each for the Knicks, who shot 44 percent (39-of-88).

"Just because we're both at the bottom of the bracket doesn't mean the other team is not going to come ready to play," Houston said. "We didn't play hard."

The game featured 10 ties and 18 lead changes.