PG Rose eager to play again

By The Associated Press

Derrick Rose is ready to start playing basketball in Cleveland again — once he’s healthy.

The oft-injured point guard acknowledged Friday he has a bone spur in his left ankle that contributed to his decision to leave the team Nov. 22.

In his first public comments since ending an almost two-week hiatus, Rose told reporters he had apologized to his teammates, was content with the Cavaliers and insisted he couldn’t wait to get back on the court.

“I was just figuring things out, thinking about this and that,” Rose said before the Cavaliers’ morning shootaround in Indianapolis. “But I’m here for my team. I’m here to win. And that’s one of the reasons why I came back.”

Before his departure, Rose had been slowed for weeks by an ankle injury. It was the latest chapter in what has become a frustratingly recurring story.

Since being named the league’s MVP in 2011, Rose has played in just 237 of 501 possible games including just seven of the Cavaliers’ first 25 this season. Rose’s absence prompted some to speculate on his future plans and when he returned to the team earlier this week, some contended that the top overall draft pick in 2008 was only coming back to cash in on a lucrative contract.

“It’s not about that. I’ve saved up enough money,” Rose said. “If I wanted to leave, I would have left. Like I said, coming back here, starting with rehab that’s my first step. Keeping it simple and just giving my team support and then I’ll see what I see off the court.”

Warriors

Kevin Durant scored 13 of his 36 points in the third quarter, and Golden State completed an undefeated road trip with a 102-98 victory at Detroit Pistons. Golden State went 6-0 on this trip, playing the final two games without Stephen Curry, who is out with a sprained right ankle.

Elsewhere

The mother free agent Chris Bosh is among several people questioned by police in a drug raid in a Dallas suburb. A DeSoto, Texas, police spokesperson said Frieda Bosh was one of several people found about 6:30 a.m. Friday in the house in a posh gated community in DeSoto. Police Sgt. Nick Bristow said no arrests were made, but enough drug paraphernalia was found to indicate they were used in narcotics trafficking. He said the investigation was continuing.