WELL-TIMED WIN
ROSE LEAVES WITH ELBOW INJURY; BULLS 1 BACK OF PLAYOFF
HOUSTON — Thanks, Pacers. The Bulls started the week needing help, and their neighbors from Indiana have been more than accommodating.
First, they welcomed the Bulls into their own home Tuesday and fell apart in the fourth quarter to let the visiting team pull out a dramatic victory.
On Thursday, they were blown out at home by the Magic, and the Bulls overcame a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, then held on to beat the Rockets 103-100 at the Toyota Center.
“It’s big,’’ guard Jimmy Butler said of the last few games. “We want to win as many games as we can. Head into these playoffs.’’
The victory against the Rockets combined with the Pacers’ meltdown have the Bulls (38-37) only one game behind Indiana for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they also own the tiebreaker.
“Obviously it’s huge,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said. “The great thing was we kept fighting rather than putting our heads down and found a way to regain control.
‘‘That was a great effort by our guys, a lot more fight from our guys.’’
The Bulls already were without Taj Gibson (fractured rib), then lost Derrick Rose by halftime because he couldn’t put up a shot with an injured left elbow.
“You could see it,’’ Hoiberg said. “[Rose] was playing with one arm, so I kind of made the decision for him. I said, ‘Derrick, it’s not worth it.’ So we sat him the second half.’’
It was the first time Rose had started a game and didn’t score.
“Tried to just give it my all when I was out there, but it was sore,’’ Rose said.
Nikola Mirotic (28 points) kept the Bulls hanging around in the first half, scoring 14 points in the second quarter alone, but Butler shouldered the load late, taking over point-guard duties and scoring 15 points and handing out four assists in the second half.
The Bulls tried to give the game away late, but when Trevor Ariza missed a potential game-tying three at the horn, they seemed very confident in the locker room.
“I think all the guys want to win, of course,’’ said Butler, who had 21 points. “When we do hit adversity from here on out, I hope we know how to turn from it.’’
Rose’s injury was bad enough, but missing Gibson might be just as big.
He has emerged as a vocal leader the last few weeks and is one of the toughest Bulls.
Gibson revealed that he frac- tured the rib Saturday against the Magic but continued to play. He didn’t sit out against the Hawks and played the first half against the Pacers before the pain finally forced him out.
“I’m doing it for my teammates,’’ Gibson said. “I believe in the good cause. I’m trying to play for my coach, do all the right things. That’s what leaders do.’’ It didn’t go unnoticed. “It’s not good timing with everything that’s at stake with our team right now,’’ Hoiberg said of Gibson’s injury. “Taj is a guy that’s been really vocal, so we’ll definitely miss that.’’
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