DEERFIELD, Ill. – Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, last season's MVP, wanted to play Tuesday against the New York Knicks after spraining his right ankle against them in Sunday's loss. But the team said no.
By John Smierciak, AP
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose worked out before Tuesday's game vs. the New York Knicks, but the team decided to give him the night off to rest his sprained right ankle.
Rose, who had missed the previous 12 games with a serious groin injury, wants to play Thursday against the Miami Heat— and signs are pointing toward that. If Rose had his way, it would be guaranteed.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says Rose will be a game-time decision for Thursday's important Eastern Conference game against the Heat. The three-time All-Star practiced Wednesday but did not meet with reporters.
"He's fine. … We'll see where he is" Thursday, Thibodeau said.
However, Thibodeau knows the Bulls need Rose on the court if they want to win an NBA championship. Getting him minutes in the final two weeks of the regular season is important, especially now that shooting guard Richard Hamilton has rejoined the starting lineup after injuries forced him to miss 38 games.
In 20 minutes of Tuesday's game, Hamilton had a team-high 20 points and showed flashes of his former self, running off screens and quickly launching his trademark mid-range jump shot.
Getting Hamilton and Rose in-sync is paramount to the Bulls' playoff success.
"Derrick has to get some games under his belt, too, so he can play well," Thibodeau said. "It's not an individual sport. It's a team sport.
"You have to get your timing with your teammates and your defensive schemes down and all that," Thibodeau said. "So him playing is important, but not at the expense of him playing hurt or injured. We certainly don't want him to do that. If he's healthy enough to play, he will. If he's not, he won't."
Rose warmed up on the court before Tuesday's game and tried talking his way into playing. But after watching him go through his pregame routine, Thibodeau, Bulls general manager Gar Forman and the team's training staff decided it was best Rose give the ankle the night off.
"When he's healthy, he can go," Thibodeau said. "He probably could've gone (Tuesday) night but we wanted to be safe with it. He's feeling a lot better. All the swelling is out, so that's good."
The Bulls beat the Knicks 98-86 on Tuesday, and Rose got more time to heal. It was the 23rd game he missed this season, and the Bulls are 16-7 without him.
Thibodeau has praised the players who have stepped up with Rose sidelined by a variety of injuries — sprained big left toe, sore back, strained right groin and the ankle.
"We feel good about the guys who are filling in and getting the job done. That's been a strength all year," Thibodeau said.
Guards C.J. Watson and John Lucas III have helped the Bulls maintain the league's best record despite playing so many games without Rose.
The Bulls have a three-game lead over the 40-16 Heat, and a win Thursday would give Chicago a four-game lead and just about wrap up the No. 1 seed in the East.
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