CLEVELAND — The Chicago Bulls came in oozing with confidence, unafraid of LeBron James and convinced they could keep their playoff momentum rolling.
Derrick Rose made sure they did.
Looking like the league MVP he was before being slowed by knee injuries, Rose scored 25 points, while Pau Gasol added 21. The Bulls led from the start in a 99-92 win over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.
Rose, who sustained a shoulder stinger in the closing minute, helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs. Cleveland was missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but its bigger issue was not stopping Rose or his pick-and-roll plays with Gasol.
After all he’s been through — surgeries, hours of rehab, uncertainty about his future — Rose, who has missed over 180 games the past four seasons, is savoring every moment back in the postseason.
“I just appreciate everything,” he said, “getting back on the floor, my fans, every aspect of basketball. It’s allowed me to change my life and my family’s life. I owe so much to this sport. I’m just trying to roll with it.”
Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out, silencing a roaring Cleveland crowd already worried about Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Kyrie Irving scored 30 points and James added 19 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, playing its first game since Love — one of the Cavs’ Big 3 — was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a shoulder injury.
“No excuses,” Cavs coach David Blatt said.
James didn’t offer any.
“We all just have to play better,” said James, who had nine assists but six turnovers. “I wasn’t that good tonight.”
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
