Jan. 04--Bulls guard Derrick Rose is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday on his right leg, which left him sidelined for the third straight game Sunday.
What began as right hamstring tendinitis led to pain, stiffness and swelling in his knee. And although Rose and coach Fred Hoiberg downplayed concern over long-term issues, that's the knee Rose twice has had surgery on to repair a torn meniscus.
"I know everything's going to be fine," Rose said. "It's more reassurance."
Rose said the issue stemmed from his amping up workouts on days off to try to continue his newfound offensive rhythm after starting the season slowly following facial surgery. Rose had posted back-to-back 20-point games for the first time this season before this absence.
"Three straight off days I came in and shot instead of sitting out and getting recovery and massages and all that," Rose said. "And it kind of fatigued me. But the way I was playing, I didn't want to miss any games or I didn't want to go there and not be prepared. And it backfired a little bit as far as me having no energy and fatigue in my legs."
Rose said he planned to play Sunday before awakening with discomfort. It didn't stop him from getting in a workout, and he hasn't ruled out playing Tuesday versus the Bucks. He said his swelling is gone.
"I just can't push off the way I want to," Rose said. "I just have to figure out my (workout) schedule a little bit better. I'd rather have this problem of overworking myself than actually being out there in a game and something serious happening."
Hoiberg said the medical and training staffs aren't overly concerned with Rose's latest setback. It comes just as Rose had started to play with more aggressiveness and explosiveness.
"To have that type of stretch and then this setback, it's been tough on him," Hoiberg said. "At the same time, understand it's a long season and there are a lot of games left and we have to be careful with it. Hopefully we'll get good news (Monday)."
Back at it? Hoiberg said Mike Dunleavy remains "two to three weeks" from trying to cut in on-court work. How Dunleavy responds to that would determine if he plays this season.
Hoiberg conceded recently it's legitimate to question whether the veteran forward plays after offseason back surgery, though Hoiberg remains optimistic of a return.
"He's been getting some shots on the floor but not a lot of movement at this point," Hoiberg said. "He's getting on the anti-gravity treadmill. He feels really good, and the big thing is he doesn't have any type of pain after his workouts. That's been a positive."
Dunleavy felt close to a return when he suffered a setback in his rehab in late November.
