After a couple of days of rest and treatment on his bruised right wrist, rookie Derrick Rose said following the Bulls’ morning shootaround that he will play tonight against the Miami Heat at the United Center.
“I’m feeling better and I’m definitely playing,” Rose said.
The wrist still is stiff and sore, but when trainer Fred Tedeschi left the decision of whether or not to up to Rose, the rookie immediately decided to play.
“When you’re playing, the pain doesn’t matter,” he said. “You just go out there and play. This game is real important. We need this victory. It hurt me watching from the sidelines last game. I hadn’t missed a game this year or last year in college.”
Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro took a more cautious approach. “We’ll see how Derrick feels before the game and then we’ll make a decision,” Del Negro said.
Rose suffered the injury Monday in Washington when he hit his wrist on the rim during a failed dunk attempt. His sat out Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, the first game he has missed this season.
Kirk Hinrich, who had 24 points Tuesday, likely will make a second straight start at point guard, whether Rose plays or not.
