Derrick Rose injury updates elicit a mix of exasperation and dread these days, but the news coming out of Chicago on Sunday is of the hopeful variety. And “hopeful” is the operative word here a,s that’s how Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg characterized the prospect of Rose returning to the court against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday after sitting out the last two games with an ankle injury. Via Nick Friedell of ESPN.com:
“I feel good,” Rose said after Sunday’s practice. “My body was a little fatigued from just running around or just sitting down for a little time. Being able to run around today, and I had a great workout [Saturday] and I had another workout today after we got done practicing so I’m heading in the right direction … that’s what I’m aiming for, Tuesday, for sure.
Hoiberg concurred with Rose’s outlook on a Tuesday night return, saying that despite lingering soreness, he was able to make it through two full workouts over the weekend.
Rose was supposed to be a game-time decision against the undefeated Golden State Warriors on Friday night but was quickly ruled out earlier that day after it became clear he wasn’t quite ready to play. Chicago lost that game and subsequently conceded the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following Tuesday’s game, they’ll travel to Indiana to play the Pacers on Black Friday before returning home to face the Spurs the following Monday.
(Via ESPN.com)
