Bulls 99 - 100 Knicks
Final - OT
  for this game

Rose ready to return as Bulls open home-and-home set with Knicks

Apr 8, 2012 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - Barring a setback, the Chicago Bulls plan to have Derrick Rose back in the lineup when they play the front end of a home-and-home set with the playoff-hopeful New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Rose, who has missed nearly a month of action with a strained groin, practiced Saturday and said he was ready to return.

Coach Tom Thibodeau was a bit more tempered, however, and was still calling the reigning NBA MVP a game-time decision for Sunday in what very well could be a first round playoff preview.

Currently the Bulls are tops in the Eastern Conference and lead San Antonio by 2 1/2 games for the best record in the NBA while the Knicks are No. 8 in the East, just one-half game ahead of surging Milwaukee. If the postseason started today, these two teams would match up in the East quarterfinals.

The Bulls halted their first losing streak of the season in their last outing on Thursday when Luol Deng poured in a season-high 26 points as Chicago defeated the Celtics, 93-86, at United Center.

Joakim Noah finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Carlos Boozer recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 boards for Chicago, which was trying to become the first team in NBA history to avoid losing back-to-back games before suffering hiccups to Oklahoma City and Houston on Apr. 1-2.

"We just played Chicago basketball," Deng said.

Rose, who has dealt with a series of nagging injuries this season, missed his 12th straight game with the groin injury but the Bulls managed to keep their heads above water without their superstar, improving to 8-4 in those contests. Overall, Chicago is 15-7 when Rose hadn't played in 2011-12.

"Our team has shown all year that we have great fight and we believe we can win with whoever we have out there," Thibodeau said.

The Knicks, meanwhile, improved their own postseason chances with a 96-80 win at Orlando on Thursday behind Carmelo Anthony's 19 points and eight rebounds.

Tyson Chandler recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards, while J.R. Smith and Toney Douglas netted 15 points apiece for the Knicks, who continue to play without injured starters Jeremy Lin (knee) and Amare Stoudemire (back).

"I'm really proud of my teammates," remarked Chandler after the game. "[The bench] came out ready to play tonight and it came from the defensive end."

Lin is likely done for the season after undergoing surgery but New York is hopeful to have Stoudemire back in another week or so.

The Knicks are a solid 10-3 since interim coach Mike Woodson took over for Mike D'Antoni.

Chicago has won three straight over the Knicks, including a 105-102 win at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 2.






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