Rose makes pre-season Bulls debut, eyes season opener

LINCOLN, United States: Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose made his pre-season debut on Friday with a plastic mask protecting his ailing left eye and said he hopes to be ready for the start of the season next week.
“This opens it up even more,” Rose said of his chances of taking the floor on Tuesday when Chicago take on Eastern Conference champions Cleveland to launch the 2015-16 NBA season.
“I don’t want to jinx myself. But my eye is improving every day. It looks like it’s a go for me.
“This gives me a couple days to really work on it so I’m prepared for Tuesday.”
Rose has endured persistent swelling and blurred vision in his left eye after surgery on September 30 to repair a fractured left orbital.
Even with the injury he played aggressively in Chicago’s 103-102 exhibition win over the Dallas Mavericks.
“I felt good,” said Rose, who finished with eight points, one assist and no turnovers in just over 10 minutes on the court, all in the first half.
“I love the way coach designed everything,” he said of the game plan of new Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “He has me running downhill and catching the ball with a live dribble. There are a lot of lanes and so many opportunities to drive. It’s open. I love it.”
In the past four seasons, Rose has played just 100 games because of various injuries, including surgery on both knees.
His latest injury came when he took an elbow to the face in practice last month. Although the effects have lingered, Rose said he’s ready to get the season under way.
“I’m just happy to be running around and get a groove for the game,” he said.

Pelicans down Heat

In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Miami Heat 93-90 in the last preseason game for both on Friday night.
Davis gave the Pelicans the lead for good, 84-83, on a 3-pointer with 3:10 left. Eric Gordon added 22 points, including two late free throws.
Gerald Green scored 24 for the Heat, and Chris Bosh had 19.
Pelicans: New Orleans played without six injured players — centers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca, guards Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole and forward Quincy Pondexter and Luke Babbitt.
Heat: Dwyane Wade had 11 points but hit only 3 of 13 shots, finishing the preseason shooting 35.8 percent. . Green, playing for his eighth NBA team, averaged a Heat-best 17.8 points in the preseason.
Fined: The NBA fined Green $25,000 for making finger guns and throat-slash gestures against the Washington Wizards Wednesday night. Said coach Erik Spoelstra: “He accepts the responsibility of it and we’ll have to move on. The league has a very clear stance on it.”
Up next: The Heat begin the regular season on Wednesday at home against Charlotte. The Pelicans start Tuesday at defending champion Golden State, which swept them in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Spurs score

Danny Green made six 3-pointers and joined LaMarcus Aldridge with 19 points and the San Antonio Spurs closed the preseason by beating the Houston Rockets 111-86 on Friday night.
James Harden had 17 points and nine assists to lead Houston, which hosts Denver on Wednesday to open the season.
Aldridge finished 6 of 7 from the field in his highest scoring output with San Antonio.
Green made his first six 3s and finished 6 for 8 from long range. The Spurs were 11 of 22 on 3s.
SPURS: Manu Ginobili finished with 14 points and six assists. ... Tim Duncan had four points and six rebounds.
ROCKETS: Dwight Howard sat out the game with lower back tightness. ... Corey Brewer had 14 points and two steals. ... Patrick Beverly had nine points, all on 3s.