Bulls Game No. 8: Derrick Rose returns, starters play together for the first time in win
102. 24. Final. 91. 64
After missing four of the last five games due to a pair of sprained ankles, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose returned in fantastic fashion. Rose led all scorers with 24 points in his return to the starting lineup in a 102-91 Bulls victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night in Chicago.
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“Of course I wasn’t 100 percent tonight but I felt like we needed to get this win,” Derrick Rose said after a 95-86 Bulls victory last Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Rose tweaked his sprained ankles in a collision during the second quarter, but still contributed with 13 points and seven assists in 31 minutes of action.
Although Rose gutted out a decent performance, everyone watching the game knew that Rose wasn’t the same player they had seen previously. Rose would miss the next two games, but returned in a big way in Monday’s 102-91 win over Detroit.
In 32 minutes on Monday, Rose scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting, dished out seven assists and grabbed a pair of rebounds in the win. Rose, along with three other starters for the Bulls, all scored in double figures in their first action together as a unit.
Between Rose’s 24, Jimmy Butler‘s 19 points, Pau Gasol‘s 17 points and Joakim Noah‘s 13 points, the Bulls looked like the team experts thought would contend for the Eastern Conference crown throughout the night, which was keyed by the return of the 2011 NBA MVP Award recipient.
"“I don’t think anyone in the league can guard him 1-on-1,” said former Bull and current Piston D.J. Augustin, who drew the unenviable task of trying to slow him down. “That’s why you have to get help from your teammates. The main goal tonight was to clog the lane and try to stop him in transition.”-D.J. Augustin on slowing down Derrick Rose, CSNChicago.com"
(Right idea, bad execution, D.J.)
When asked about Derrick Rose‘s health and performance, Pau Gasol replied,
"“Big difference,” Pau Gasol said of Rose’s last two games. “He was able to move a lot better and play with that explosiveness that is characteristic of him.”-Pau Gasol on Derrick Rose vs. Milwaukee and Detroit, CSNChicago.com"
Even when Detroit cut into the 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, Rose checked in with 9:30 left and made an impact down the stretch, scoring six points and dishing out a pair of assists. His final assist was on the huge three-pointer by Jimmy Butler with 1:55 left that made it 95-88 Bulls and seemingly ended the night right there.
Thoughts + what’s next for the Bulls
Not only did the Bulls score 100+ points for the sixth time in eight games, the starters saw significant time together for the first time all season.
Sure, the second-half shooting was abysmal and the Bulls almost blew a large lead for the second time in three games against a bad team, but that’s why you need a healthy Derrick Rose. Having a superstar at point guard makes all the difference in the world down the stretch of games in today’s NBA.
With Rose in the lineup, Pau Gasol logged his 409th career double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds and Joakim Noah flirted with his fifth triple-double since the start of last season with 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
The Bulls (6-2) enjoy a couple days off, then travel to “The North”, where the top team in the Eastern Conference at the moment resides. The Raptors (6-1) have enjoyed a flaming-hot start to the season, including averaging over 107 points per game to lead the entire NBA.
Tip-off between the Bulls and Raptors is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT on TNT, which is the third national television appearance for the Bulls already this season.
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Next: Bulls Game No. 7: Bulls fall at home despite Aaron Brooks' fourth-quarter explosion