Jan. 27--The Bulls have some question marks when it comes to who will be able to take the court and when during their upcoming seven-game trip.
Derrick Rose, who didn't play during the second half of the Bulls' 89-84 loss to the Heat on Monday night because of hamstring and back issues, had a limited role in Tuesday's practice and his status for Thursday night's game against the Lakers in Los Angeles is uncertain.
"(Rose) did a little bit of the non-contact stuff we did but once we started scrimmaging and getting up and down he sat out that portion of practice," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We'll get him in here moving around (Wednesday) and then obviously the shootaround and warmup for the game and see how he's doing."
Rose has missed six games this season with various injuries but this latest one won't require an MRI, according to Hoiberg.
"He was fine at the shootaround (Monday) and over the course of the day something tightened up on him," Hoiberg said. "He has kind of had an issue with the back of his knee where the hamstring tendon attaches. He just had a little bit of soreness and had trouble exploding off it after those first 12 or 13 minutes so he sat out the rest of (Monday's) game.
"You have to be careful when you're dealing with the hamstring. It causes a little bit of knee pain and somehow it went to the back (Monday) as well."
Hoiberg did say that tightness and spasms in Rose's back had subsided Tuesday.
Rose's injury exacerbated problems with depth at guard as E'Twaun Moore (right hamstring strain) and Kirk Hinrich (left quad contusion) missed Monday's game. Jimmy Butler had to add backup point guard to Aaron Brooks to his own duties against the Heat.
The news on Moore was encouraging as he took some contact during Tuesday's practice and Hoiberg said he hopes Moore "can give us something out there" against the Lakers.
Hoiberg said Hinrich was moving better but is still not ready for full activity.
If Rose and Moore have setbacks, Hoiberg said the Bulls likely won't add another guard to the roster.
"That would be an injury exception and I don't think we can get one at this point," he said.
The most encouraging sign for the Bulls at practice was Mike Dunleavy's full participation. The veteran has not played this season after undergoing back surgery right before training camp.
"(Dunleavy) looked good out there," Hoiberg said. "There is going to be some rust, there's no doubt about that. (Tuesday) was the first time he really got up and down with our guys. (Wednesday) he'll come in with some of the guys who aren't playing a lot of minutes right now and (then) get another opportunity to get two practices out in L.A. We'll make a determination from there."
