Derrick Rose lifts Bulls over Thunder despite lingering vision issues
CHICAGO — Just imagine if Derrick Rose had two working eyes.
After three consecutive games of single-digit scoring efforts for the first time in his career, Rose ripped the life out of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Mask and all, Rose channeled the energy of summer workout partner Russell Westbrook and dropped 12 of his season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to secure the Chicago Bulls' 104-98 win.
There was the glancing banked shot that broke a 94-94 tie. There was the tear-drop baseline jumper that extended the lead to four a minute later. And with 1:07 left, Rose buried one final jumper from the elbow extended to secure Thursday’s win.
"He’s a hell of a player. He carried us," said Jimmy Butler, who had 21 of his 26 points in the first half. "That’s what leaders do."
Rose entered the game averaging 10.2 points on 33% shooting, easily the lowest among the Bulls' starters. That’s because he’s still seeing double with lingering depth issues out of his left eye, a result of an errant elbow caught on the first day of training camp. Rose missed all but one game of the preseason after having orbital surgery. And aside from the conditioning aspect, he’s also trying to learn and conduct Fred Hoiberg’s wide-open offensive system.
"It's still the same," Rose said of his eye compared to Tuesday night, when the Bulls were embarrassed 130-105 by the previously winless Charlotte Hornets. "With my eye like this, I don’t want to affect the game in a way where I’m messing up the game instead of doing something positive. This time around, I just tried to be aggressive."
His unintentionally sheepish response sounded almost comical after the way he picked apart the Thunder defense. Both via the pick-and-roll and in isolation, Rose showed no ill effects of his three knee surgeries or any of the questions concerning his stamina.
Crazy as it may sound, it was the first time since Dec. 6, 2010 that Rose and Westbrook went head-to-head against each other. Injuries have tamed the comparisons, but there were undeniable downhill flashes of both playing at breakneck speeds.
"Russ is a great player. The year that he had last year, I’m happy for him. I’m real close with him and his family," Rose said. "Kinda similar (in style), but Russ is Russ. I love Russ’s game."
Westbrook finished with 20 points and 10 assists, a substantial accomplishment from the Bulls’ perspective considering he entered with the third-highest scoring average in the NBA (28.6). His teammate, Kevin Durant, finished with 33 on Thursday night, but it came via 29 shots.
Rose actually started the game just 1-for-8 from the field while Butler, Chicago’s other emerging star, carried both the Durant defensive assignment and the offense. Butler poured in 14 in the second quarter alone with two three-pointer and six trips to the free-throw line. The backcourt synergy came to a crescendo in the second quarter when Rose penetrated past Westbrook, drew the help defense and dished to a slashing Butler for a momentum-swinging jam.
It was precisely the type of play Hoiberg, Butler or Rose would point to when addressing compatibility questions of the two stars. The Bulls got 55 of their 104 points from their impressive pair, two more than Oklahoma City's star tandem could provide. And for just the sixth game of the season, with both teams still adjusting to rookie head coaches, it was about as polished and entertaining a matchup as one could’ve reasonably asked for.
And what does it mean to Butler when his oft-injured, soft-spoken counterpart is playing so well within the offense?
"It means we’re feeling it," Butler said. "He had it going in the second half. I had it going in the first. When I was hot he continued to give me the ball. And whenever he was ... do your thing, brother."
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