Rose shrugs off injury, produces eye-popping highlights
Once again, Bulls fans can rest easy when it comes to the health, talent or attitude of Derrick Rose.
He missed a game this week with a sprained left toe, but maybe it was just a case of Wizards-itis. Because Rose certainly seemed full strength on Friday in Boston.
Rose produced 25 points, 7 assists and a number of eye-popping highlights as the Bulls raced to an early lead and held off the Celtics 88-79. Their league-best record improved to 11-2.
Asked if the toe bothered him, Rose replied, “Not really. It's probably because my adrenaline was going and I wanted to win.”
Rose moved around for two days with his left foot in a walking boot and there's not much doubt he was hurting. At the same time, a visit from Washington — the league's worst team — was an ideal chance to get him some rest. Maybe Rose can develop a pinkie toe injury before the Bulls visit Washington on Jan. 30.
Injured or not, Rose delivered a steady stream of highlights in his latest duel with Rajon Rondo.
In the final minute of the first half, Rose tossed a careless pass toward Carlos Boozer that was deflected by Boston's Chris Wilcox. Rose kept going forward, grabbed the loose ball and threw down a two-hand, windup slam.
Early in third quarter, Rose tossed a wild shot that barely grazed the backboard, but he grabbed his own rebound, went back up between Garnett and Brandon Bass, scored and drew the foul.
Then late in the game, he drove the lane, found Bass in the way and somehow spun, then managed to drop in a reverse bank shot. Rose later told a sideline interviewer he works on shots like that all the time.
“When it was time, he made big play after big play, which we've grown accustomed to,” coach Tom Thibodeau to reporters after the game.
The Bulls led by 20 points on three occasions in the third quarter, the latest at 61-41 with 7:18 remaining after a Deng jumper.
Boston (4-7) battled back to close within 67-66 with 10 minutes left on a Mickael Pietrus 3-pointer and missed a shot to take the lead. Rose responded with a layup, 2 free throws and later a pair of 3-pointers. The second made it 80-71 with 4:58 remaining and the Bulls were in control.
“They were giving me the shot,” Rose said. “I probably was out a little bit further than I normally am, but they didn't come and contest and I was just shooting. My teammates have confidence in me. They see how hard I work on my shot and my game. At the end of the game like that when situations happen, they're going to give me the ball.”
Deng had a big night, finishing with 21 points, 16 rebounds and dominating a matchup with Paul Pierce. All five Bulls starters reached double-figures, including the somewhat maligned Boozer (12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) and Joakim Noah (10 points, 12 boards, 4 blocks).
Ronnie Brewer added 12 points and the Bulls bench had an unusually quiet night with just 8 points. Richard Hamilton (groin) and C.J. Watson (elbow) continued to sit out, but are said to be close to returning. The Bulls finish a set of five games in six nights at home tonight against Toronto.
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