Rose and Co. take care of Dallas
This was one of those unusual circumstances that happen late in an NBA season. Even though the result meant something in the standings for both sides, the Bulls and Dallas tried to play a careful game.
The Mavericks rested guards Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, while trying to keep Dirk Nowitzki's minutes low.
On the Bulls' side, Derrick Rose returned to action after missing three games with a sore right ankle. He produced 11 points and 8 assists, then freely admitted he toned things down to save his health in the Bulls' 93-83 victory at the United Center.
“I was just trying to pace myself, try not to do anything to reinjure it, (such as) me driving to the hole,” Rose said in the locker room. “Just trying to take the game easy, but play smart.
“(The ankle) throbbed a little bit, but the good thing about it, we got the win. Got a couple days off to get treatment, stay off my feet and hopefully it will get better day by day.”
The Bulls (48-16) got an unexpected bonus when Miami lost at home to Washington. The Heat rested LeBron James and Chris Bosh, then lost Dwyane Wade early in the game to a dislocated finger.
That means the Bulls' magic number for clinching first place in the East dropped to 1. Any loss by Miami or win by the Bulls wraps up the top seed in the playoffs. The Heat has two games — home vs. Houston and at Boston — before the Bulls play again Wednesday at Indiana.
Even if the top seed is locked up, the Bulls are hoping to use their final two regular-season games as a tune up. Rose said he'll be attacking the basket with abandon as soon as he's able.
“When the opportunity comes and I'm totally healthy, I will,” Rose said. “Until then, I'm just trying to make the game easy, doing whatever it takes to win this game. Today it was me passing the ball, getting guys open.
“I wasn't that tired when I was out there. I didn't push the ball like that. I was walking the ball up, seeing who was open, throwing the ball up to Lu and Rip, so they can bring the ball up and try to attack.”
Luol Deng led the Bulls with 22 points and Rip Hamilton scored 19. Center Joakim Noah finished with 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 8 points.
“Taking everything into consideration, I thought (Rose) played a very controlled-type game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Taking care of the ball, trying to run the offense, just trying to get a feel for being out there again. I think it was a good first step.
“(The offense) is a little choppy right now. We've got to get a rhythm. We'll try to figure that out as we go.”
The Bulls got off to a good start, leading 21-8 after the first quarter. But Dallas (36-29) bounced back and briefly took a 56-55 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter.
The Bulls closed the quarter with an 11-0 run, then the Mavs got within 78-76 with 4:10 left and coach Rick Carlisle sent Nowitzki (17 points) back onto the floor. The Bulls scored the next 7 points on a Noah tip, Rose one-hander and Kyle Korver 3-pointer to put it away.
“The next few days we're going to get some practice in,” Deng said. “I don't think it's really hard to play with each other. We know what everyone does. We have smart players. It shouldn't be that hard.”
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com