Rose looks ready to go for Bulls' opener

LINCOLN, Neb. — Derrick Rose made his preseason debut, playing just over 10 minutes, and Doug McDermott hit a fallaway jumper with a second left to give the Bulls a 103-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Before the game, head coach Fred Hoiberg told

Bulls.com it was all about Rose getting back in his groove.

“If he's comfortable playing, that's the big thing,” said Hoiberg. “If he was comfortable going out there, we were going to play him. Talking to the trainers and doctors about it, they felt good about getting him out there. We'll see how he does out and make that determination (about playing next Tuesday) in the next few days.”

Hoiberg had to like what he saw as Rose settled in Friday, playing about 5 minutes in both the first and second quarters. He had 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

Rose seemed uplifted by his effort on Friday as well.

“I thought I was going to facilitate the game, he said. But I saw openings and I got all the way to the basket. It's very encouraging.”

Rose had been sidelined since fracturing his left orbital bone on Sept. 29 during the Bulls' first scrimmage.

Taj Gibson had 16 points and 7 rebounds while Tony Snell and Nikola Mirotic had 14 points each.

The Bulls will host Cleveland to open the regular season on Tuesday.

They may catch another break since superstar LeBron James still isn't practicing because of a troublesome back.

The four-time MVP received an anti-inflammatory injection in his back on Oct. 13, but hasn't practiced since as he hasn't been cleared by Cleveland's medical and training staffs. James, who played in just two of Cleveland's seven preseason games, said Friday that he's not positive he'll be on the floor against the Bulls.

“If everything goes right,” he said. “We feel like we're progressing really well and if we can continue to do that, then I'm optimistic that I'll be able to go.”