Rose Returns, Bulls Beat Bucks, 95-86
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Derrick Rose returned from his latest injury and helped the Chicago Bulls continue to make themselves at home in Milwaukee with a 95-86 win over the Bucks on Wednesday night.
Taj Gibson scored 23 points, Pau Gasol added 22 and Rose had 13 points and seven assists in 32 minutes for the Bulls, who have beaten the Bucks nine straight times in Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks.
With Chicago leading by one, Gasol hit a jumper and Butler made an acrobatic layup. That started a clinching 9-2 run that was capped by Kirk Hinrich's 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining.
Rose, who missed most of the past two seasons because of serious knee injuries, sat out the Bulls' previous two games with sprains in both ankles.
Rose's playing status was unclear even a few hours before first tip on Wednesday, as Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose would be evaluated after he went through pregame warmups. He was announced as a starter shortly before tip-off.
After a tentative start, Rose began to look more like himself late in the first half, driving for a pair of layups in the final three minutes of the second quarter. Rose was serenaded with "MVP" chants from a large and loud contingent of Bulls fans near the end of the game.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.