Rose playing more like old self
Despite losing at Dallas 118-111 on Saturday, the Bulls took the tough loss as a sign they're back on the right track.
They delivered one of their best wins of the season on Christmas Day at Oklahoma City, then had to play again the next night against a rested Mavericks squad. After missing three chances to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, the Bulls let it get away late.
“Lots of positives,” Jimmy Butler told reporters after the game, according to bulls.com. “We definitely competed from start to finish. We'll learn from this tough one after playing like we did (Friday), but that's why we have 82 of them.”
The Bulls have an important week ahead, with three home games against Eastern Conference rivals. They host Toronto on Monday, Indiana on Wednesday and New York on Friday.
The two games on the holiday road trip provided some encouraging signs about Derrick Rose. He had his best shooting game of the season in Dallas, hitting 12 of 20 shots for 25 points.
Over the last six games, Rose has averaged 18.5 points and shot a respectable 42.9 percent from the field. It appears Rose is starting to settle in after missing most of preseason with a fractured orbital bone below his left eye.
After Saturday's loss, though, Rose wasn't feeling positive about a late turnover that allowed Dallas to boost its lead to 4 points with 54 seconds left.
“I feel like I lost this game for the team,” Rose said in the locker room.
Rose's teammates came to his defense after he scored 9 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Bulls in contention.
“When he's attacking, being aggressive and getting everyone involved like he did, it gives us a great chance to win the game,” Butler said. “That's the Derrick everyone wants to see. That's the Derrick that can take over a game.”
Another key turnover on Saturday was a five-second violation with the Bulls trailing by 3 and 11.2 seconds remaining. Rose was throwing the ball inbounds. He could have called timeout before the count got to five, but the Bulls also ran a slow-developing play with no one popping open until Butler finally caught a pass just after the referee blew the whistle.
“We don't really point fingers,” Taj Gibson said. “Everybody is accountable. We all could have done something or one or two things better that would have helped us win the game.
“Derrick is a leader and that's what leaders do, take the blame for tough games. But we are a family. We just came up short. I felt Derrick played great. As long as guys keep playing with that edge and same fire we should be fine.”
Even though the Bulls lost Joakim Noah for at least two weeks with a left shoulder sprain, coach Fred Hoiberg continued to start a tall front line of Gibson, Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic. Tony Snell played nine minutes against the Thunder, then did not get off the bench in Dallas.
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Bulls scouting report
Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors at the United Center, 7 tonight
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: ESPN 1000-AM
Outlook: This is the first meeting of the season between these teams. Toronto (19-12) has won two in a row and will bring a deep lineup to the UC. DeMar DeRozan leads the way at 22.7 ppg, followed by PG Kyle Lowry at 20.7 ppg. The Raptors have been starting ex-Bull James Johnson and bringing new addition DeMarre Carroll (11.9 ppg) off the bench. The Bulls have won five straight at home against Toronto.
Next: Indiana Pacers at the United Center on Wednesday, 7 p.m.
— Mike McGraw