Derrick Rose Returns After Injury, Scores 16 In Chicago Bulls’ Win

by Pablo MenaJanuary 6, 2016, 3:35 pmNews >

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose marked his return from his injury with a strong 117-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, during which he scored 16 points and got six assists. Rose had missed three straight games due to right hamstring and right knee soreness.

DERRICK ROSE RETURNS AFTER INJURY, SCORES 16 IN CHICAGO BULLS’ WIN

“I felt good,” Rose stated. “I felt good … I was able to work out the last couple, three days. They cut my time on the court, so I wasn’t able to go through my whole routine, but that just never got out, so I wasn’t ever worried about it. It was just coming in and getting my feet wet again and trying not to mess up the run.”

The Bulls are having a great season, and have now won five consecutive games. Rose had an MRI on his right knee on Monday, and admitted that he felt there was a little more pressure than usual in his return given his team’s recent performances during games this season.

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Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg appeared content with the way Rose played.

“I thought Derrick was good,” Hoiberg said. “A little rusty out of the gate, but once he started attacking the basket, I really liked the way he was out there playing … at times, he can be a one-man fast break, and the big thing is he needs to continue to attack and get himself to get to the basket.”

Rose’s performance has reportedly improved because he has been getting to the rim and attacking more than at any other point this season. He remains confident that the rest of the season will be promising, despite a rocky start, during which he fractured his left orbital bone in the first practice of training camp.

“It just takes me playing. I know that it’s there,” he said of his ability to get to the basket again. “It just takes me actually going out there and playing, like I said before the injury, consistent games. I can’t be frustrated or I can’t be mad because of life. Something was bothering me. It was reality that I had to sit out a little bit because I was overworking myself. But I would rather have that problem than anything else.”

The Bulls, who are second in the Eastern Conference, will next face off against the Boston Celtics at home on Thursday.