DeAndre Jordan/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers
Jamal Crawford scored 12 points and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds as the Clippers took a 51-47 lead over the Chicago Bulls into the halftime break Sunday at Staples Center.
Wesley Johnson and Chris Paul contributed eight points apiece for the Clippers (31-16).
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls (26-19) with 12 points and Derrick Rose scored eight.
Derrick Rose/Photo courtesy of Chicago Bulls, NBA.com
The Chicago Tribune has reported that point guard Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls won’t play tonight (Monday) against the Clippers at Staples Center because of a strained left hamstring. It will be Rose’s sixth missed game of 11 the Bulls (7-3) will have played this season.
But Clippers guard Jamal Crawford doesn’t believe that means the Clippers will automatically have an easier time with Chicago.
“He’s missed some time, obviously, the last couple of years,” Crawford said at the morning shootaround. “They’ve found a way to play without him and still do well without him. Obviously, they’re a better team with him, but they’ve gotten used to that, so you still can’t let your guard down.”
Rose did not play in 2012-13 and played in just 10 games in 2013-14 because of knee injuries.