Bulls at Cavaliers
THE STORY:
The matchup between the present and future at point guard in the
Eastern Conference might have to wait. Derrick Rose’s ailing big toe is
still bothering him, something Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving knows all too
well. The Chicago Bulls' Rose missed practice Thursday, but got some
shots up and will be a game-time decision Friday against the host
Cavaliers. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose, a former top overall
pick in the draft, will play if he can handle the pain. He’s already
missed two of the last four games because of the injury. Irving, the top
overall pick last summer, had his one season at Duke limited to 11
games because of a similar (but more severe) injury. Irving leads the
Cavaliers in scoring at 17.7 points per game and coach Byron Scott
admitted Thursday he is progressing faster than expected. The Cavaliers
need that progress to continue. They have parlayed an easy schedule into
a 6-7 start, but nine of their next 10 games come against teams that
made the playoffs last season. “We’re running into a buzz saw these next
10 games,” Scott said.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, FS Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE BULLS (13-3):
If Rose is unable to play, C.J. Watson has proven to be a capable
replacement. Watson has averaged 24.3 points in three starts replacing
Rose dating back to last season. He dislocated his elbow on New Year’s
Day and called the elbow 60 percent healed, yet still managed to score
23 points without a turnover in Tuesday’s easy victory over the Suns.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (6-7):
Anthony Parker returned to practice Thursday from a sore lower back and
Scott is expecting him to play, which would push Daniel Gibson back to
the bench. Gibson is averaging less than eight points per game, but hit
big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter recently to seal wins over
Minnesota and Phoenix. He is also the Cavaliers’ best perimeter defender
and limited Monta Ellis to 10 points Tuesday on 2-of-12 shooting – more
than 14 points below his scoring average.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1.
Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao has double-doubles in three consecutive
games. He has grabbed double figures in rebounds in a personal-best
eight straight games.
2. Chicago’s Derrick Rose averaged 23 points and 8.8 rebounds in four games against the Cavaliers last season.
3. The Bulls return home following the game to play four consecutive home games.