NBA teams
Nick Friedell, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Derrick Rose injured vs. Rockets, Taj Gibson out

NBA, Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose did not play in the second half because of ongoing problems with a left elbow contusion.

"I tried to just give it my all while I was out there but it was sore," Rose said after a 103-100 win over the Houston Rockets.

Bulls power forward Taj Gibson was already out for this game because of a rib fracture.

"We'll see how it progresses," coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game when asked if Gibson could be out for the rest of the year. "As of right now, we'll sit him tonight and then test him again when we get back to Chicago [on Friday]."

Hoiberg said it "hasn't been determined yet" whether Rose would get an MRI on the elbow once the Bulls return to Chicago. Hoiberg said that he made the decision not to play Rose in the second half.

"I kind of went to him," Hoiberg said. "You could just see he was playing with one arm out there and I kind of made the decision for him. I said 'Derrick, it's not worth it. You're out there playing with one arm.' So we sat him in the second half."

Rose initially injured the arm in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Hawks and tweaked it again in Tuesday night's win over the Indiana Pacers. He had it taped before Thursday's game, but did not take a shot in almost 12 minutes of play.

"Not being able to extend your arm," Rose said. "And feeling a pinch and discomfort whenever you extend it." The Bulls' next game is Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. It is unclear whether or not Rose will be able to play.

"Treatment, try and get back on the court as quick as possible," he said. "But just listening to my body, get as much treatment as I can and see where it goes from there."

Gibson has been dealing with his injury for a few days and tried to play through it Tuesday, going scoreless in 10 minutes in a 98-96 win over Indiana. It remains unclear how long he will be out, but he insisted Thursday that he will return this season.

"It can linger," Hoiberg said. "He's been wearing a pad over the area. He's been trying to fight through it, obviously. He just went through the first half the other night and was not able to go in the second half just based on how he was feeling.

"That's what it is with this injury. It's not in one of the ribs where, from what I understand, it could get into his lung or anything like that. It's low enough to where it's a small fracture and pain will dictate how much he can go the rest of the year. But everything's spasmed right now. He's having trouble reaching over his head. And it's just smart not to play him tonight."

Rookie Bobby Portis started at power forward in place of Gibson on Thursday and scored two points in 10 minutes.

The Bulls trail the Pacers by one game for the final playoff spot in the East.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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