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Pacers visit Bulls in Central showdown

Nov 15, 2014 - 3:28 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - There's not much love going around for Chicago Bulls guard and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose.

The Bulls will get back to work Saturday versus the Indiana Pacers in a brief stop at the United Center. After hosting the rival Pacers, the Bulls will hit the road for seven straight - five on the west coast.

Former NBA greats Charles Barkley and Chris Webber have expressed their displeasure in Rose's recent remarks about his future after basketball and not wanting to experience side effects from his rash of injuries.

Barkley, in his usual candid self, was open about the Rose situation.

"He's a great player and a great kid ... but that was stupid. We're so blessed. I limp around but I go home to a big ol' mansion," Barkley said. "There are people that work harder than Derrick Rose that go home to a shack. There are consequences for what we do for a living. We've got the best life in the world. I've got a big car and I never have to worry about bills. Derrick Rose is making $20 million dollars a year and he's got a couple of bad knees. There are pros and cons of what we do for a living."

Rose also has two bad ankles and if things couldn't get worse for the speedy guard, a hamstring injury popped up in Thursday's hard-fought 100-93 road win against the tough Toronto Raptors. Rose played just under 30 minutes and finished with 20 points.

"I guess it's cramps in my hamstrings," Rose said. "But I think it's minor, and they decided to pull me out."

Rose said he will see how it feels Saturday, but is doubtful.

Pau Gasol had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Mike Dunleavy contributed 14 points for the Bulls, who had a 35-14 scoring advantage in the third quarter and made 48.1 percent from the floor.

"We had a great third quarter," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "In the fourth, we did a lot to hang on. We still have a lot of work to do. Lot of things still to clean up."

Chicago, which is 7-2 on the season, has scored at least 100 points in all but two of its nine games and is 2-2 at home as opposed to a 5-0 road record. The Bulls started the 2011-12 campaign with a 12-2 mark.

The Pacers crashed back to Earth Friday night. After a two-game winning streak, Indiana fell at home to the Denver Nuggets, 108-87. The Nuggets had one victory prior to Friday.

A.J. Price's 14 points led the way for Indiana. Solomon Hill, Donald Sloan and Lavoy Allen each finished with 12 points and Ian Mahinmi pulled down 10 rebounds.

The starting frontline of Roy Hibbert, Chris Copeland and Luis Scola combined for 18 points on 7-for-24 shooting.

CJ Miles returned after missing several games with migraines, but a sore calf allowed him to play just a shade over four minutes. This Pacers team is still without David West, George Hill, CJ Watson, Rodney Stuckey, and, of course, Paul George.

"We need to bring it every night. That's the bottom line," said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel. "It should hurt, but we play tomorrow night, so we've got to move on."

Indiana and Chicago split four games last season. The Pacers have lost three straight and 14 of the last 17 trips to the Windy City.