Finally, after missing two games, former Most Valuable Player (MVP) point guard Derrick Rose was back from an ankle sprain and helped the Chicago Bulls top the Portland Trail Blazers on the road, 93–88.
The returning Rose was the second leading scorer for Chicago, having 17 points and also recording four rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes of action.
"I'm just happy I got off the court," Rose joked after the win, according to the Associated Press.
The 27-year-old point guard added, "I think we played an all-right game. We won so that's the only thing that matters."
Rose's efforts were matched by forward Jimmy Butler who led all scorers for the Bulls with 22 points that came along with two rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
But it was not just the backcourt duo of Rose and Butler, as starting big men Nikola Mirotić and Pau Gasol also played efficiently in the win over Portland.
Mirotic had 13 points, eight rebounds, with three assists, while Gasol contributed a double-double 12 points and 14 rebounds, with one block.
In the closing moments of the game, Butler and Blazers center Mason Plumlee engaged in an altercation which led to the Bulls guard receiving a technical foul, while Plumlee was handed a flagrant foul.
The win over the Blazers gave the Bulls a 9–4 record to sit on the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings and are close to the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers who are at 11–4.
Up next for the Bulls will be the last game of a four-game road trip as they take on the Indiana Pacers for the second time this season on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Blazers were led by All-Star playmaker Damian Lillard who had a double-double 19 points and 10 rebounds, as well as eight assists and one block.
The loss dropped the Blazers to 6–10 for the 11th spot in the Western Conference standings and will next take on the struggling Los Angeles Lakers this Saturday.
