Bulls open circus trip with big win
The Bulls probably figured there was a good chance Derrick Rose would need another night off to rest his left hamstring strain.
But there was a second starter down late Monday night in Los Angeles. Not only did Rose sit again, but Pau Gasol also did not play against the Clippers because of a left-calf strain.
Playing short-handed is nothing new for the Bulls, though, and they stayed perfect on the road this season with an impressive 105-89 victory at the Staples Center.
After trailing by 14 points with 3:44 left in the second quarter, the Bulls closed within 50-48 by halftime, then dominated the third quarter to the tune of 31-14 and coasted in the fourth.
Jimmy Butler led six players in double figures with 22 points. Taj Gibson, starting in place of Gasol, added 20 points. Mike Dunleavy scored 19, while Joakim Noah finished with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Bulls improved to 8-3 overall and 6-0 on the road. Jamal Crawford led the Clippers (5-4) with 24 points.
This was the first stop on the seven-game circus road trip. There was no mention of Gasol's calf strain after the Bulls lost to Indiana on Saturday at the United Center, although he said the injury happened in that game.
“I was hoping maybe I got kicked or something, I just didn't realize,” Gasol told reporters Monday, according to espn.com.
“But I felt my calf was getting sorer and sorer. … It was a little aggravated after shootaround, so right now I just don't want to reaggravate it by playing tonight and hopefully with this next couple of days of not having games I'll be able to be back soon.”
The Bulls are hoping to be back at full strength when the trip continues Thursday in Sacramento. Rose gave an update on his injured hamstring at shootaround.
“It's getting better every day, still taking my time,” Rose said. “It's just calming down. It's not as sore, just really trying to listen to my body again and get the most out of every day.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose was doing much better Monday and that he participated in most of the shootaround.
Gibson and Butler saw heavy duty in the first half Monday, sitting out less than two minutes. After trailing by 14, Gibson poked the ball away just before the first half ended. Butler picked it up and drained a 19-foot jumper with 0.2 seconds on the clock and was fouled for a 3-point play.
The calf injury ruined Gasol's Los Angeles homecoming. He spent the previous six seasons playing in the same arena for the Lakers.
“Being in the city means a lot,” Gasol said Saturday. “Obviously, a lot of memories in the city, the fans and that building as well. But with the Clipper thing going on it's not quite the same. It's also a meaningful game because we've got to try to bounce back from this loss.”
Gasol signed with the Bulls as a free agent this summer and is off to a great start, averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds.
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