NOT SO VINTAGE
Derrick Rose savors career-high 50 points in Minnesota Timberwolves’ win
During the 2017-18 regular season, Derrick Rose didn’t score 50 points in all of January. Or February.
Or March.
Or April.
He was hurting, always in and out of the lineup, never in rhythm. Those problems, all his years of problems, seemed so long ago Wednesday night, when Rose was better than ever — finishing with a career-high 50 points that lifted the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 128-125.
“I played my heart out,” Rose said. “My teammates told me before the game, just play my game. And tonight was a hell of a night.”
That it was, by every possible measure.
Rose became the fourth player already this season — it’s barely two weeks old — to score at least 50 in a game, joining Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
And if the 50 wasn’t enough, Rose sealed the win by blocking Dante Exum’s 3-pointer with about two seconds remaining.
Moments later, Rose walked off the floor in tears. The game had made the 2011 NBA MVP cry before. Only this time, the emotion was all joy.
“I know the person that he is, the character that he has,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And it shines through.”
Rose has dealt with four knee surgeries, took time away last season to figure things out while dealing with ankle issues and sat out nearly two full seasons when he should have been in his prime.
A night like this showed what is still possible.
“In every story, there’s a beginning, a middle and an end,” Thibodeau said. “And I think the end is going to be great for him.” /