Rose sits, but Bulls defeat Wizards
RIO DE JANEIRO — Derrick Rose missed the first NBA game played in South America on Saturday, sitting out the Chicago Bulls’ 83-81 victory over the Washington Wizards with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee.
The NBA star’s absence disappointed a sellout crowd of 13,635 at the HSBC Arena in Rio — the gymnastics venue at the 2016 Olympics — where the top ticket price for the preseason game was 2,000 Brazilian reals ($915).
Taj Gibson led the Bulls with 18 points and Luol Deng added 14. Bradley Beal paced Washington with 16.
Rose had played two preseason games without any sign of problems, but the knee flared up in practice Friday. There was no immediate indication of the seriousness of the injury, or whether it was just a case of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau being cautious.
Kirk Hinrich started at point guard in Rose’s absence and finished with eight points and three assists.
Chicago led 44-35 at halftime and was in control most of the way until Washington took a 79-77 lead with 5:42 left on Glen Rice’s 3-pointer.
Fans started chanting late in the game “Rose, Rose,” hoping to see the Bulls’ star make an appearance.
Chicago’s Joakim Noah also missed the game with a groin injury.
Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt got a rousing welcome from the fans, but Wizards center Nene, who grew up near Sao Paulo, was jeered as he took the floor. And he was jeered each time he went to the free-throw line.
Many Brazil fans are unhappy because Nene seldom plays for the national team, and Schmidt has criticized him for not doing so.
Chicago is 3-0 in the preseason and Washington is 0-2.