Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose did not play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Wizards because of soreness in his surgically repaired left knee.
Rose developed the soreness during Friday’s practice. The Bulls said the decision to hold him out of the game, which was played in Rio de Janeiro, was precautionary.
“We wanted to see where he was today, but he wasn’t as well as we would have liked,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He still had the soreness. So we anticipated giving him time off. We view our training camp as the entire month. So if he needs a day, or a couple of days, we’ll do that.”
Kirk Hinrich started at point guard in Rose’s absence and finished with eight points and three assists in the Bulls’ 83-81 win.
“It’s more, I think, just a precaution. He’s coming off a really big injury. We’re not too worried,” Hinrich said. “He’s been good all camp, and I’m assuming everybody is expecting him to be ready.
“Coming back from a big injury like that, you don’t want to push it too hard, too fast.”
Rose missed all of last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the playoffs in April 2012. The former NBA MVP appeared in each of Chicago’s first two preseason games this month, scoring 13 points while playing at least 20 minutes in each contest.
-ESPN/AP
