Bulls at Clippers
THE STORY: It is probably safe to say Los Angeles Clippers fans have never experienced a home opener like the one they will see Friday when NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls come to town. The game will also give the fans their first glimpse of Chris Paul in a home uniform. Paul was acquired earlier this month from New Orleans in the biggest trade in Clippers history. Adding to the opener is Paul’s matchup with Rose. The two are widely considered the two best point guards in the NBA. Rose’s Bulls are 4-0 against Paul, but the Clippers’ newest sensation has averaged 19.3 points and 7.8 assists in the four matchups. This is the last of four straight road games for the Bulls. Rose had 19 points and eight assists as the Bulls earned a 108-98 victory at Sacramento on Thursday. Rose also had six turnovers and was in foul trouble. “(Fouls) are something I have to get through and can’t worry about,” Rose said. “I’m just happy we won the game.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE BULLS (2-1): While most of the focus will be on Paul and Rose, the game also reunites Chicago’s Richard Hamilton, picked up in the off-season, and new Clipper Chauncey Billups. Hamilton and Billups played together in Detroit for six seasons, and won the 2004 NBA championship. “That’s my brother,” Hamilton told the Chicago Tribune. “It was awesome. We had a close relationship on and off the floor. We had a great feel for each other on the court. Our games were suited for each other but we were always competitive with each other.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (1-1): The Clippers will try to put a disappointing 115-90 loss at San Antonio behind them. Paul, Billups and forward Caron Butler will make their home debuts. “Hopefully it’s exciting,” Paul said. “We’ve had one home preseason game, opened up with two road games and it’s good to come back and play in front of our home crowd for the first time.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Clippers are 5-7 in home openers at the Staples Center.
2. Los Angeles is 16-6 in its last 22 games against the Bulls.
3. Chicago ended the Clippers’ nine-game home winning streak with a 106-88 victory on Feb. 2.