Rose returns, Bulls beat Bucks 95-86

MILWAUKEE - Derrick Rose returned from his latest injury and helped the Chicago Bulls continue to make themselves at home in Milwaukee with a 95-86 win over the Bucks on Wednesday night.

Taj Gibson scored 23 points, Pau Gasol added 22 and Rose had 13 points and seven assists in 32 minutes for the Bulls, who have beaten the Bucks nine straight times in Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks.

With Chicago leading by one, Gasol hit a jumper and Butler made an acrobatic layup. That started a clinching 9-2 run that was capped by Kirk Hinrich's 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining.

Rose, who missed most of the past two seasons because of serious knee injuries, sat out the Bulls' previous two games with sprains in both ankles.

Rose's playing status was unclear even a few hours before first tip on Wednesday, as Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose would be evaluated after he went through pregame warm-ups. He was announced as a starter shortly before tip-off.

After a tentative start, Rose began to look more like himself late in the first half, driving for a pair of layups in the final three minutes of the second quarter. Rose was serenaded with "MVP" chants from a large and loud contingent of Bulls fans near the end of the game.

• TIP-INS

The Bulls: The Bulls were still without center Joakim Noah, who missed his second straight game because of illness; Noah was expected to travel to Milwaukee to rejoin the team after missing Tuesday's game against Orlando. . Jimmy Butler had three steals in a stretch of less than four minutes in the third quarter.

The Bucks: Antetokounmpo fired up the crowd with a thunderous two-handed dunk in transition late in the second quarter, set up by a blocked shot by Larry Sanders and a no-look lob from Brandon Knight.

• UP NEXT

Chicago: Plays at Philadelphia on Friday.

Milwaukee: Plays at Detroit on Friday.