Derrick Rose’s aggressive play has helped the Chicago Bulls to their best
start since their most recent championship season. He might not have much
trouble keeping that energy going in the next game.

The reigning league MVP should receive an enthusiastic reception as the
Bulls take on the Memphis Grizzlies in their home opener Sunday night.

Rose got off to an uneven start to this lockout-shortened campaign as he
scored 22 points in a thrilling win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas
Day, then struggled during a loss at Golden State the next evening with 13
points on 4-of-17 shooting.

The point guard bounced back to hit 53.6 percent of his shots in the final
two games of a season-opening road trip and had his best performance of the
season while spoiling the new-look Los Angeles Clippers’ home opener Friday.

Rose had 29 points, 16 assists – one shy of tying his career high – and
eight rebounds during a 114-101 victory. The effort help the Bulls finish off
their trip with back-to-back victories and improve to 3-1 for the first time
since 1997-98.

“The last two games he’s been very, very aggressive and our team has played
with a lot of force offensively,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Rose will try to continue those efforts while helping his team win a fourth
consecutive home opener and post a third straight victory over the Grizzlies
(1-2), which would mark the longest streak in the series since the Bulls claimed
the first seven meetings. Chicago swept Memphis last season for the first time
since 2004-05.

“We have a lot of confidence, but we still need to go out there and play
hard. It’s not going to be easy game. They’re a hard-working team,” Rose said.

Rose recorded his only career triple-double during a 96-84 win in Memphis on
Jan. 17, and scored a team-best 24 points during a 99-96 win at the United
Center on March 25.

Luol Deng was also instrumental in those victories, averaging 25.5 points on
61.3 percent shooting. He enters this contest scoring 18.5 points per game, just
off his career best-average of 18.8 from 2006-07.

Deng and the Bulls will face a Grizzlies team coming off its first win of
the season, a 113-93 rout of Houston on Friday. Zach Randolph led the way with
23 points on 11-of-14 shooting but impressed coach Lionel Hollins just as much
with his defense.

“That’s what I’m trying to focus on, just better D, helping my guys out and
being in the right position,” Randolph said. “Defense wins games. I know I can
score with the best of them, and rebound with the best of them. (Working) on
defense there’s going to be a trickle-down effect.”

Marc Gasol added 20 points for Memphis, which had averaged 88.5 points over
its first two games. The Grizzlies had six players in double figures, including
Chicago native Jeremy Pargo. The rookie, brother of former Bulls guard Jannero
Pargo, had 14 points while starting in place of Mike Conley, who is dealing with
a sprained ankle.

Memphis might need Pargo’s help to end its losing streak to Chicago. The
Grizzlies averaged 90.0 points over the two matchups in 2010-11, their
second-lowest mark against any opponent last season ahead of only the 86.0 per
game against Orlando.

The Chicago Bulls finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference
last season in large part because of the defensive schemes installed by
first-year coach Tom Thibodeau.

For Thibodeau and the Bulls to live up to the high bars they set last
season, they’ll need to knock the rust off of that defense.

The Bulls look to bounce back from their first loss Thursday night when they
visit the Sacramento Kings.

After rallying for an 88-87 win in their season opener against the Los
Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, the Bulls (1-1) could not overcome an early
deficit Monday against Golden State. Chicago gave up 20 fast-break points and 42
points in the paint in the 99-91 defeat.

“We let them get easy looks,” reigning MVP Derrick Rose said. “In the first
quarter, we’ve got to find a way to stop people. Guys that we know can score the
ball, they’re getting too many easy looks.”

Rose also struggled on offense, going 4 for 17 from the field and finishing
with 13 points. But the Bulls’ primary focus is recommitting to their defensive
mindset from last season, when they led the league in opponents’ field goal
percentage (43.0) and ranked second in opponents’ scoring (91.3 points per game)
en route to 62 wins.

The Bulls’ first two opponents this season have shot 47.1 percent.

“We’re not going to get to where we want to get to playing defense like
that,” center Joakim Noah told the team’s official website after the Bulls
committed 20 turnovers and forced only 10 against the Warriors. “We have to
improve. It’s frustrating. Our defense was just bad.”

The Bulls will try to better execute their defensive plan against a young
Sacramento team coming off a poor offensive showing. After beating the Lakers
100-91 in their opener Monday, the Kings (1-1) were outscored 55-33 in the
second half of a 101-79 loss at Portland on Tuesday.

Sacramento’s starters went 17 for 49 (34.7 percent) from the field in the
game, and the Kings were 9 of 38 (23.7) in the second half.

“We had our moments in the first 16, 18, 20 minutes, then we fell apart,”
coach Paul Westphal said. “This was a step in our development that was painful.
We got taught by a more experienced team that is far above us now.”

The Kings could have similar struggles against the Bulls, who have won five
of the last six meetings including a 132-92 rout in the most recent matchup
March 21. Eight Chicago players scored at least 11 points in that game as the
Bulls shot 61.3 percent and recorded their highest point total since April 14,
2008.

Bulls forward Luol Deng scored 17 points while making 5 of 9 shots in that
game. He has averaged 20.2 points and shot 55.1 percent in his last five
contests against Sacramento.

Kings guard Marcus Thornton, coming off a 5-for-15 performance against the
Trail Blazers, has averaged 23.0 points and shot 58.5 percent in his last three
games against the Bulls, going 10 for 15 from 3-point range.

Since being traded to the Kings in February, Thornton has averaged 25.1
points and shot 50.3 percent in 11 Sacramento wins. He has been held to 18.8
points and shot 42.3 percent in 18 losses.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry settled into a chair in front of his locker, then placed his sore right ankle into a Gatorade jug filled with ice and water.

Golden State’s mercurial guard had better get used to it at this rate.

Curry rolled his surgically repaired ankle and limped off the court for the second time in seven days. This time the pain was a little easier to take.

Curry had 21 points and 10 assists, and played stifling defense on Derrick Rose most of the night to lead the Warriors to a 99-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

“He ran his basketball team,” said Golden State coach Mark Jackson, who quietly celebrated his first victory at any level. “He was in attack mode against arguably the best point guard and the MVP of the league. He did a great job of being an extension of me on the floor.”

Monta Ellis scored 26 points and had seven assists, David Lee had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Dominic McGuire made three free throws in the final 47 seconds to seal the win.

Rose had a poor shooting night and finished with 13 points for Chicago.

It was similar to a year ago when the Warriors, playing at home, held Rose to a quiet 14 points and 10 assists and beat the Bulls 101-90.

Ellis drew the assignment against Rose in that game. This time it was almost exclusively Curry, who followed Rose closely throughout the night and prevented the league’s reigning MVP from getting settled in.

“We had an opportunity to show what we’ve been working on in training camp defensively as a team, getting on the same page,” said Curry, who was taken for X-rays on his ankle after the game. “We didn’t do that in the fourth quarter last night so we had an opportunity to come back out tonight on a short rest and turn that around. It just happened that D-Rose was here and we figured it out tonight.”

A day after making a series of late-game breakdowns against Chris Paul and the Clippers in a 105-86 loss, the Warriors built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and held on.

Rose went 4 of 17 from the floor and missed badly on a pair of 3-pointers in the final moments, including an airball with 25 seconds left.

Luol Deng, whose block of Kobe Bryant as time expired sealed Chicago’s season-opening 88-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. They trailed by as much as 19 before making a late surge to get within 96-91 with 36 seconds remaining.

Chicago, which is in the midst of a season-opening, four-game road trip, has lost nine of its last 10 games in Oakland.

“We let them get easy looks,” Rose said. “In the first quarter, we’ve got to find a way to stop people. Guys that we know can score the ball, they’re getting too many easy looks.”

Ellis, held to 15 in the season-opening loss to the Clippers, got the Warriors going with 13 points in the first quarter but it was Curry who provided the biggest lift.

He scored 12 straight points and drove past three Chicago defenders in the key to cap a 16-5 run and give Golden State a 46-27 lead. Curry also shadowed Rose and helped hold him to seven points in the first half.

Rose, who hit the game-winner in the Bulls 88-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, took only three shots in the first quarter when Chicago committed eight turnovers.

The Warriors increased their lead to 17 after three before the Bulls made their late push to get within 93-85 with 1:44 left.

Kyle Korver made a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-second span to pull Chicago within 96-91 but the Bulls couldn’t get closer.

Stephen Curry had 21 points and 10 assists, Monta Ellis scored
26 points and the Golden State Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls
99-91 on Monday, giving rookie coach Mark Jackson his first victory
at any level.

David Lee added 22 points and seven rebounds and Dominic McGuire
made three free throws in the final 47 seconds to seal the win for
Golden State.

Luol Deng, whose block of Kobe Bryant as time expired sealed
Chicago’s season-opening 88-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, had
22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed by as much as
19 before making a late surge to get within 96-91 with 36.3 seconds
remaining.

Derrick Rose had an off night shooting and finished with 13
points for Chicago.

Rose went 4 of 17 from the floor and missed badly on a pair of
3-pointers in the final moments, including an airball with 25.9
seconds left.

It was similar to a year ago when the Warriors, playing at home,
held Rose to a quiet 14 points and 10 assists and beat the Bulls
101-90.

Ellis drew the assignment against Rose in that game. This time
it was almost exclusively Curry, who followed Rose closely
throughout the night and prevented the league’s reigning MVP from
getting settled in.

A day after making series of late-game breakdowns against Chris
Paul and the Clippers in a 105-86 loss, the Warriors built a
double-digit lead in the first quarter then had to hold off the
Bulls.

Chicago, which is in the midst of a season-opening four-game
road trip, has lost nine of its last 10 games in Oakland.

Ellis, held to 15 in the season-opening loss to the Clippers,
got the Warriors going with 13 points in the first quarter but it
was Curry who provided the biggest lift.

He scored 12 straight points and drove past three Chicago
defenders in the key to cap a 16-5 run and give Golden State a
46-27 lead. Curry also shadowed Rose and helped hold him to seven
points in the first half.

Rose, who hit the game-winner in the Bulls 88-87 win over the
Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, took only three shots in the first
quarter when Chicago committed eight turnovers.

The Warriors increased their lead to 17 after three before the
Bulls made their late push to get within 93-85 with 1:44 left.

Kyle Korver made a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-second span to
pull Chicago within 96-91 but the Bulls couldn’t get closer than
that.

Notes: Chicago’s 14 first-half turnovers equaled their total
from the previous night. … It was the first time in 10 years the
Warriors have opened the season with games on consecutive nights.
Golden State also plays its next two at Oracle Arena. … The
sellout crowd included New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia, who
grew up 30 miles north of Oakland, Raiders owner Mark Davis and San
Francisco 49ers running back Anthony Dixon.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 27, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry settled into a chair in front of his locker, then placed his sore right ankle into a Gatorade jug filled with ice and water.

Golden State’s mercurial guard had better get used to it at this rate.

Curry rolled his surgically repaired ankle and limped off the court for the second time in seven days. This time the pain was a little easier to take.

Curry had 21 points and 10 assists, and played stifling defense on Derrick Rose most of the night to lead the Warriors to a 99-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

“He ran his basketball team,” said Golden State coach Mark Jackson, who quietly celebrated his first victory at any level. “He was in attack mode against arguably the best point guard and the MVP of the league. He did a great job of being an extension of me on the floor.”

Monta Ellis added 26 points and seven assists, David Lee had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Dominic McGuire made three free throws in the final 47 seconds to seal the win.

Rose had a poor shooting night and finished with 13 points for Chicago.

It was similar to a year ago when the Warriors, playing at home, held Rose to a quiet 14 points and 10 assists and beat the Bulls 101-90.

Ellis drew the assignment against Rose in that game. This time it was almost exclusively Curry, who followed Rose closely throughout the night and prevented the league’s reigning MVP from getting settled in.

“We had an opportunity to show what we’ve been working on in training camp defensively as a team, getting on the same page,” said Curry, who was taken for X-rays on his ankle after the game. “We didn’t do that in the fourth quarter last night so we had an opportunity to come back out tonight on a short rest and turn that around. It just happened that D-Rose was here and we figured it out tonight.”

A day after making a series of late-game breakdowns against Chris Paul and the Clippers in a 105-86 loss, the Warriors built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and held on.

Rose went 4 of 17 from the floor and missed badly on a pair of 3-pointers in the final moments, including an airball with 25 seconds left.

Luol Deng, whose block of Kobe Bryant as time expired sealed Chicago’s season-opening 88-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. They trailed by as much as 19 before making a late surge to get within 96-91 with 36 seconds remaining.

Chicago, which is in the midst of a season-opening, four-game road trip, has lost nine of its last 10 games in Oakland.

“We let them get easy looks,” Rose said. “In the first quarter, we’ve got to find a way to stop people. Guys that we know can score the ball, they’re getting too many easy looks.”

Ellis, held to 15 in the season-opening loss to the Clippers, got the Warriors going with 13 points in the first quarter but it was Curry who provided the biggest lift.

He scored 12 straight points and drove past three Chicago defenders in the key to cap a 16-5 run and give Golden State a 46-27 lead. Curry also shadowed Rose and helped hold him to seven points in the first half.

Rose, who hit the game-winner in the Bulls 88-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, took only three shots in the first quarter when Chicago committed eight turnovers.

The Warriors increased their lead to 17 after three before the Bulls made their late push to get within 93-85 with 1:44 left.

Kyle Korver made a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-second span to pull Chicago within 96-91 but the Bulls couldn’t get closer.

Notes

• Chicago’s 14 first-half turnovers equaled its total from the previous night.
• It was the first time in 10 years the Warriors have opened the season with games on consecutive nights. Golden State also plays its next two at Oracle Arena.
• The sellout crowd included New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, who grew up 30 miles north of Oakland, Raiders owner Mark Davis and San Francisco 49ers running back Anthony Dixon.