CHICAGO (AP) - Derrick Rose was ready to play, but didn't start for the Chicago Bulls against Miami on Thursday night after missing a game because of a bruised right wrist.
Although there were no limitations on Rose's minutes, coach Vinny Del Negro opted to bring his star rookie point guard off the bench and keep Kirk Hinrich in the lineup."I'd rather just go with the guys who have been practicing and playing - we played well the other night - and keep it going," Del Negro said. "If Derrick goes out there and he's fine (that's good), but I know he has some pain. If he goes out there, then it throws some of the substitutions off. That's kind of how I've done it all year. I think it's the right thing to do."
Rose said the wrist responded well to treatment after he injured it on a dunk attempt in the first half of Monday's game at Washington. He sat out the following night against Detroit, and Del Negro said Rose will start once he's 100 percent. On Thursday, Hinrich got the call again after delivering 24 points and eight assists to lead the Bulls to a 99-91 win over the Pistons. Thomas sat out Thursday because of back spasms.
