Bulls 92, San Antonio 85
Derrick Rose stayed healthy, the Bulls received contributions from multiple sources and they opened the 44th season in franchise history with a 92-85 victory over the Spurs at the United Center.
Making his first appearance since injuring a tendon in his right ankle Oct. 2, Rose finished with 13 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 33 minutes.
Rose, who missed most of the preseason with an injured ankle, waved and blew a kiss toward the crowd before the opening tip. He then showed some of the explosiveness that carried him to the Rookie of the Year award last season. He had no trouble penetrating and delivered some dizzying spin moves that drew roars from the crowd, showing no signs of the right ankle pain that had bothered him the past few weeks.
Luol Deng, seeing his first game action since Feb. 28 of last season, added 17 points.
The key to the game might have been the third quarter.
Tyrus Thomas led the Bulls’ charge in the third, after which the Bulls had grabbed a 74-64 lead.
After going scoreless in the first half, Thomas posted 10 points in the quarter and also grabbed three of his five rebounds.
Rose played only six minutes in the quarter.
The Bulls had six players score in double figures.
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Bulls, Boston collide again
The last time the Bulls saw Rajon Rondo, the speedy Celtics guard was smacking Brad Miller upside the head and engaging in a wrestling match with Kirk Hinrich.
Ah, those nutty NBA schedule gods, who send the Bulls on Friday night onto the same famed parquet floor where last season’s white-hot, seven-game, first-round playoff series unfolded.
“That’s a day on the calendar I’ve been waiting for a long time,” center Joakim Noah said. “KG [Kevin Garnett[ is back; a crazy atmosphere in Boston. And, obviously, they’re playing very well.”
The intensity of the rematch obviously extends beyond Rondo, although he cornered the market on extracurricular activity in that series.
“That incident won’t change how I approach the game,” Hinrich said. “We know they’re a physical team. If we don’t compete for 48 minutes, we won’t win.”
