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MVP Rose, Bulls vie to even set with Hawks

May 4, 2011 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose and top-seeded Chicago hope to rebound from a stunning loss in the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals set when they square off with underdog Atlanta again in Game 2 at the United Center.

Rose, who was named the NBA's MVP on Tuesday, was able to practice on the off day after aggravating his left ankle in the waning seconds of a 103-95 loss on Monday.

Joe Johnson went 5-of-5 from beyond the arc en route to 34 points in that one, as the Hawks used a strong fourth quarter to take down the Bulls.

Ex-Bull Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench for fifth-seeded Atlanta, which beat the Magic in six games to advance to the second round for the third consecutive season.

Jeff Teague filled in for an injured Kirk Hinrich at point guard and scored 10 points for the Hawks, who outscored Chicago, 31-24, in the fourth quarter. Hinrich, who is also an ex-Bull, will likely miss the series after severely straining his hamstring in the clinching win over Orlando.

"As long as we've got each other's backs in the locker room, we don't care about the criticism," Johnson said of the team's doubters.

Rose finished with 24 points and 10 assists for the Bulls, who needed five games to beat Indiana in the first round. This is Chicago's second trip to the Eastern Conference semis since the club's last NBA Championship in 1998.

Rose twisted his left ankle in the final seconds of the game when he stepped on the back of Crawford's foot and came up limping. The dynamic guard was just 11-for-27 from the field and did not score until the 4:58 mark of the second quarter in the game, however.

"It's fine, it's fine," Rose said during his MVP news conference on Tuesday. "I woke up this morning feeling great, went to practice, worked out after afterward."

Luol Deng donated 21 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, who are led by NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau. Carlos Boozer had 14 points and eight boards despite a case of turf toe, while Joakim Noah added 11 and nine.

"We've got to come back and play with an edge," Rose said. "I just hope we don't wake up too late and that we are ready for the next game."

Chicago was a dominant 36-5 at the United Center in the regular season and 3-0 against the Pacers in the first round before the Hawks solved them in Game 1. Atlanta coach Larry Drew hopes the Hawks aren't satiated yet.

"A lot of people have written us off even before the series began, and we've been there before," the mentor said. "Now that we've been in these situations enough times, we respond totally different to them. We don't listen to what's being said. I do believe that this team is a little bit more hungry."

The Bulls won two of three from Atlanta in the regular season. All three games took place over a three-week span in March with the Hawks lone win by three points at Philips Arena. Conversely, the Bulls two wins (one at home and one in Dixie) were by 18 and 33 points.

The teams have met four times previously in the postseason dating back to 1966-67 when the Hawks called St. Louis home. Each club has taken two series, the Hawks in '66-67 and '69-70 and the Bulls in '92-93 and '96-97.

Game 3 of the series shifts to the ATL on Friday.