Bulls Win In Rose's Return
By Nick Friedell | ESPNChicago.com
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Chicago Bulls stars Derrick Rose (strained left hamstring) and Pau Gasol (strained left calf) are playing Monday night against the Utah Jazz.
The Bulls announced just before tip-off that both players would be in the starting lineup. Rose, who received a loud cheer from Bulls fans as he started warming up before Monday night's game at the Energy Solutions Arena, has missed the last four games after injuring his hamstring in a win over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 13. He has missed eight games overall after missing four earlier in the season because of sprained ankles.
'Right now it's just playing through the fatigue,' Rose said before Monday's shootaround. 'I guess hamstring injuries, when you hurt them, you got to wait for them to heal. You got to really test it while you're out there, and fatigue has something to do with it, so I'm just trying to see if I can play through the fatigue.'
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game that the minutes restrictions on Rose and center Joakim Noah will still be in place -- likely about 30 minutes a game.
'It is what it is,' Thibodeau said of the restrictions.
Gasol has missed the last three games after injuring his calf in a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 15.
Guard Kirk Hinrich will not play Monday night because of bruised ribs suffered in Thursday's loss over the Sacramento Kings. He has missed two straight games. Bulls power forward Taj Gibson is still in Chicago receiving treatment for a sprained left ankle suffered in Friday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. It is unclear whether he will rejoin the Bulls for the rest of this road trip which ends on Sunday in Brooklyn.
Chicago Bulls beat reporter
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