Good news, Chicago basketball fans: the Bulls are now 2-3 on the Circus Trip. Last night, they beat a hobbled Jazz team (who were without stars Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer) in dramatic fashion as Larry Hughes (yup, that Larry Hughes) hit a shot at the buzzer to put the Bulls up 101-100 and seal the victory. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

And get this: Hughes had never hit a game-winner like that before:

“When that stuff happens, it kind of goes in slow motion,” Hughes said. “I saw the whole play. I saw the rebound. Once I got it, I saw him (Miles) closing out, so I knew I could get a fake in and get to the side and get off a good look. That’s all I was trying to do.

“I’ve never had a walk-off, no time on the clock. I’ve hit some game-winners, but never with no time left on the clock.”

This game was really about Derrick Rose, who went for 25 points and nine dimes. He hit two incredibly difficult shots before the Hughes prayer at the buzzer to keep the Bulls in contention. And it was his missed shot that Hughes rebounded for the winning jumper. Would have been nice if D. Rose capped off his night with the game-winner, but hey: they still won. And he clearly wants the ball in his hands when it matters most. Rose still looks like his limping around out there at times and he’s hauling some serious minutes, which concerns me a bit. The Bulls’ defense is still paper thin, too. But on nights like last night, you tend to forget things like that.

Would you like to see video of all this exciting basketball action. Good. Here it is: