Magic, Oladipo Spoil Rose's Return In 105-103 Win Over Bulls
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Victor Oladipo had 23 points and scored on a layup with 1.5 seconds left to give the Orlando Magic a 105-103 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night, spoiling Derrick Rose's return to the Bulls.
Nik Vucevic added 22 points in the Magic's third straight win.
Rose started and played for the first time in more than a month since undergoing surgery on his right knee. The point guard was 3 of 9 from the field and finished with nine points in 19 minutes.
The Bulls had a final chance with 1.5 seconds remaining, but an inbounds pass by Mike Dunleavy to Pau Gasol at the rim sailed out of bounds.
Jimmy Butler had 19 points for Chicago. Gasol, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic each added 15.
Rose was in his first action since Feb. 23 — a span of 20 games. He underwent a minor operation on his right knee on Feb. 27. The Bulls have five games left on their regular season schedule.
The plan was to ease Rose back into action by playing just 20 minutes on Wednesday. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau stuck pretty close to that, with Rose logging 19:24 in total.
He tried to make the most of it, and came out firing early on, connecting on two of his first four field goals. Rose played just shy of 13 minutes in the first half, scoring on a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer, along with an assist and two turnovers.
But he went cold after that, missing his next six shots.
Orlando took advantage, and climbed out of a 15-point, first-half hole to regain the lead 77-75.
Rose finally broke the drought, dropping in a fast break layup that put the Bulls back in front 71-68, before reaching his minutes limit and going to the bench for the final time with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
Chicago kept the momentum, and capitalized on some late Magic miscues to end the period on a 12-2 spurt, and take an 87-79 lead into the fourth.
But Orlando didn't go away, and tied it at 96 on a layup by Evan Fournier.
A 3-pointer by Mirotic briefly put Chicago back up 99-96. Oladipo responded with a floater and 3-pointer to nudge the Magic up in front 101-99.
Out of a timeout, Gasol got free in the lane for a layup and was fouled. He missed his ensuing free throw, leading to a jumper by Orlando's Aaron Gordon.
Aaron Brooks turned it over the Bulls' next trip down the floor, but Fournier came up short on a jumper.
A scramble for a rebound after a Bulls miss went out of bounds. A replay review gave it back to Chicago with 11.5 seconds to play. Gasol was then fouled by Gordon and connected on both free throws to set up Oladipo's layup.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Butler received a technical foul with 3:02 left in the third quarter for hanging on the rim after a dunk. ... G Kirk Hinrich returned after missing last two games with a hyperextended left knee. ...Chicago scored 17 points off nine Magic turnovers in the first half.
Magic: Connected on their first 19 free throws. ...G Evan Fournier returned after missing last 17 games with a sore right hip. G Willie Green (hyperextended right knee) and Devyn Marble (eye) both sat out.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Miami on Thursday night.
Magic: Host Raptors on Friday night.
(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
