Advertisement

Clippers 121, Bulls 82

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers might not be the best team for the Chicago Bulls to measure against without point guard Derrick Rose, but if Sunday served any indication the Bulls are approaching difficult waters.

Without Rose, who suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee Friday and will undergo potential season-ending surgery on Monday, the Bulls could not keep up as the relentless Clippers beat them 121-82 at sold out Staples Center.

The onslaught was immediate, consistent and unyielding with the Clippers waylaying the Bulls with a 65-point first half on 62.5 percent shooting, then building leads as big as 40 points in a thunderous second half.

Clippers guard Jared Dudley, a key offseason acquisition who has been slow to get untracked, sank four 3-pointers and had 21 points and fellow summer addition, guard J.J. Redick, added 19 points to lead six Clippers in double figures.

Most importantly, Clippers power forward Blake Griffin and point guard Chris Paul had to exert minimal effort on the back end of two games in consecutive days. Neither played more than 27 minutes. Griffin finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul added 16 points and 17 assists.

Bulls forward Luol Deng had 22 points and forwards Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy each added 14, but Chicago was done in by its 39.5 percent shooting and the Clippers' 58.5 percent shooting.

Guard Darren Collison came off the bench to add 14 points for the Clippers, who won their second straight game.

Notes: Bulls G Derrick Rose is scheduled to undergo surgery on the torn medial meniscus in his right knee Monday. The length of Rose's absence is pending the surgery, with one possibility being reattaching the meniscus, a procedure that could cost Rose the remainder of the season. If so, it will essentially mean Rose will miss his second straight season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs. "There's of course the disappointment for Derrick because of the type of person he is," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He's such a great teammate along with being a great player. ... The Clippers were sympathetic of Rose's injury. "It's awful. You want Derrick playing," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "I'm just hoping he's back healthy this year. It would be great for (Thibodeau), but more importantly it would be great for the Bulls and for Derrick. He deserves it."