Rose looks sharp, Bulls beat Spurs 92-85

By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer Oct 30, 12:24 am EDT

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CHICAGO (AP)—Derrick Rose(notes) was so antsy and “geeked up” to get back on the court he had to blast the music on his way to the arena.

Once he arrived, he certainly seemed in tune. Or at least close.

Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Chicago Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

Rose, who missed most of the preseason because of pain in his right ankle, waved to his mom in the crowd and blew her a kiss before the opening tip. He then showed some of the explosiveness that carried him to the Rookie of the Year award last season.

“I was geeked up in the car listening to the music, just getting ready for the game,” Rose said. “I was ready.”

Was the ankle an issue?

“Not at all,” said Rose, who played 33 minutes.

He penetrated and delivered some dizzying spin moves that drew roars from the crowd, showing few signs of the pain that had bothered him the past few weeks even if there’s still some rust to scrape away.

Rose had plenty of help, and Chicago pulled away in the second half despite Tim Duncan’s(notes) 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Spurs.

“Derrick is one of my favorite players,” said Chicago’s Luol Deng(notes), who had 17 points and nine rebounds. “Not just athletically, but he really reads the game well, finding guys. The team fits him real well. It starts with him, and he’s just doing a good job of finding everybody and penetrating.”

As for his own performance? Deng said, “I’m happy. It was one game.”

It was a good start for Deng, who missed the final 22 games last season and then the playoffs. Kirk Hinrich(notes) added 14 points, and Tyrus Thomas(notes) scored his 13 in the second half. Joakim Noah(notes) chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and the Bulls held advantages on the glass (52-44) and in second-chance points (22-13). There was also a big disparity in offensive rebounds, with Chicago grabbing 15 compared to eight for the Spurs.

“Just one of those nights we couldn’t make a shot, and on top of that, they brought a lot of energy to the table,” Duncan said.

Besides that dominant effort from their big man, the Spurs were simply flat after opening with an easy win over New Orleans on Wednesday.

Manu Ginobili(notes) scored 12 but was just 3 for 11. Tony Parker(notes) had eight points and three assists after leaving Wednesday’s game following a hard fall in the third quarter, and Richard Jefferson(notes) was off target again after a rough debut. He shot 3 for 9 and scored nine after going 1 for 7 against the Hornets.

“They were more aggressive—loose balls, board, the whole deal,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Bulls led by one at halftime after Hinrich hit a 3-pointer with just under a second left and then took control in the third, outscoring the Spurs 27-18 to go up 74-64.

Thomas started a 14-4 run midway through the third with a jumper and delivered and later dunked over Richard Jefferson on an alley-oop from Brad Miller(notes), howling and burying a free throw to complete the three-point play. Hinrich then capped the run with a 7-footer that made it 72-58 with 2:19 left in the quarter.

Bulls players came down through the crowd during pregame introductions, high-fiving fans as they made their way to the court, and the good vibe didn’t end there. Chicago has higher expectations after pushing Boston to seven games in a thrilling first-round playoff series last season, and that largely hinges on the health of Rose.

He passed the first test and so did the Bulls. Now, they’re facing another one Friday when they visit the Celtics. This time they will have to contend with Kevin Garnett(notes), who was injured and missed that series.

More important to the Bulls is this: Rose is getting better.

“In the game, I really didn’t feel it,” Rose said.

NOTES: Neither team shot well from 3-point range, with the Spurs going 4 for 21 and the Bulls hitting 3 of 16. … Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro has a fan in Popovich. “What Vinny does is he takes it seriously and works his (butt) off,” Popovich said. “In the summertime, he didn’t just go on vacation. He talked to a lot of us. He wanted to discuss basketball. He wanted to know how we do things here and there. And why we do this and why we do that.”

Updated Oct 30, 12:24 am EDT
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68 Comments

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  1. angloamer
    68. Posted by angloamer Sun Nov 1 5:28am EST

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    That kid Joakim Noah, plays with real heart. The Bulls got a keeper there. He gives a 100 percent all the time, He should be on the Celtics.
  2. Texas_Hurricane
    67. Posted by Texas_Hurricane Fri Oct 30 7:16pm EDT

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    Way To Go Bulls!

    The Spurts Are Going To Be Very Disappointing This Year...And That's A Good Thing!
  3. Ryo-Oh-Ki
    66. Posted by Ryo-Oh-Ki Fri Oct 30 6:25pm EDT

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    #67 you forgot bout llmar
  4. P
    65. Posted by P Fri Oct 30 5:37pm EDT

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    Celtics Big 5 of Rondo, Sheed, KG, Allen, and Pierce over the Lakers Big 4 of Artest, Kobe, Bi-num, and Gay-sol
  5. Lind
    64. Posted by Lind Fri Oct 30 3:30pm EDT

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    NBA is rigged
  6. BB
    63. Posted by BB Fri Oct 30 2:14pm EDT

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    The Bulls are going to win 73 games this year. Go Bulls!!! DA BULLS!!!!!!!
  7. mr guzzlegood
    62. Posted by mr guzzlegood Fri Oct 30 1:44pm EDT

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    wait till they have to play the LAKERS. oops sorry- SA is good but....
  8. Andrew
    61. Posted by Andrew Fri Oct 30 1:29pm EDT

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    Da bulls!!!!!! i am counting on the bulls to have an excellent season this year....peace
  9. <i>twhite383838</i>
    60. Posted by twhite383838 Fri Oct 30 12:58pm EDT

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    I am a big fan of Derrick's Roses and he is sweet as candy his game that is just do right by the game alright go Bulls!!!!!!!!!!!!
  10. Antonio
    59. Posted by Antonio Fri Oct 30 12:43pm EDT

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    dat boii ROSE is the TRUTH!!! he gone make it big in the NBA.......He was unstoppable in the game.. i jus can't wait to see him against koby
  11. joseph w
    58. Posted by joseph w Fri Oct 30 12:36pm EDT

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    When will Deng go on the disabled list is my concern with him. He is not physically prepared to withstand an entire season.
  12. HELLO
    57. Posted by HELLO Fri Oct 30 12:27pm EDT

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    Goooo d rose!!
  13. LU32
    56. Posted by LU32 Fri Oct 30 11:52am EDT

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    What was that about the improved front line?
  14. <i>www.ali_blade</i>
    55. Posted by www.ali_blade Fri Oct 30 11:17am EDT

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    this havent football
  15. thomasb
    54. Posted by thomasb Fri Oct 30 11:06am EDT

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    Its just the regular season, TP is hurt and RJ is looking disoriented, can't seem to buy a bucket. But Tim Duncan is the best center in the NBA, power forwards dont defend shaq, dude. The duncan PF ruse is so he can be called the "greatest" somewhere as historically the center spot is thick with players that were as good or better than TD. TD could never run the floor like a Karl Malone or most other PF's, he's not a real PF. But he is the best all around center in the NBA on both sides of the ball.
  16. Fred
    53. Posted by Fred Fri Oct 30 10:41am EDT

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    its just one game, just let the season play out, and you will see the bulls will be happy they played well in this one, oh and Tim Duncan is the best power foward, even if they say he is a center, he is a power foward and the best one at that.
  17. ron_e_dainja
    52. Posted by ron_e_dainja Fri Oct 30 10:19am EDT

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    Karl Malone is the greatest PF that ever played.
  18. <i>sambyrum21</i>
    51. Posted by sambyrum21 Fri Oct 30 10:05am EDT

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    actually its richard jefferson
  19. <i>jstafrn</i>
    50. Posted by jstafrn Fri Oct 30 9:40am EDT

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    The spurs can't shoot, plain and simple. This has become apparent over the last 2 completed seasons. The have prolonged dry spells in which no combination of players seems to work. Welcome to the clud Al Jefferson; so far you fit right in.
  20. erick v
    49. Posted by erick v Fri Oct 30 9:35am EDT

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    This goes out to guess_who!!!

    i want my apology!!!!!!!! i told you bulls would win this one!!!!!!!!!!
  21. <i>kkevkevy</i>
    48. Posted by kkevkevy Fri Oct 30 9:25am EDT

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    lulie mama stop being a whore this is a sports blog not singles hotline
  22. RAULIE
    46. Posted by RAULIE Fri Oct 30 9:01am EDT

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    Umm The Chosend One(haha loser)

    Last time bulls won a playoff series...no not a generation ago but 3 yrs ago. Lame Ass
  23. <i>julietmama@...</i>
    45. Posted by julietmama@... Fri Oct 30 6:24am EDT

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    play well is just the game helo rose am a fan this is my email u get me reply
  24. <i>chevy_corvette_2006</i>
    44. Posted by chevy_corvette_2006 Fri Oct 30 5:24am EDT

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    Look at all the sore losers, im not a fan of either team but the bulls showed up and won the game simple as that. For all those people nagging about rotation, really, the core of the spurs (Parker, Manu and Duncan) has remained the same for years and should show up regardless of new additions. Bulls were simply the better team tonight.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 San Antonio
T. Duncan Tim Duncan
13-19,  28 Pts
16 Rebs, 2 Assists
 Chicago
L. Deng Luol Deng
8-13,  17 Pts
9 Rebs, 2 Assists

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