Nov. 24--Derrick Rose was among the last Bulls players to leave the court Monday at the Moda Center, taking a volume of 3-point shots after practice.
There was nothing noticeable about Rose's left ankle injury, which backs up what coach Fred Hoiberg said regarding his point guard's expected return Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Rose, who missed the last two games with a left ankle sprain, will start if there were no setbacks during the ensuing 24 hours.
"He was good, made it through another full practice," Hoiberg said. "We got up and down a little, and Derrick made it through."
Kirk Hinrich started in Rose's absence. If Rose plays, that would be the only change to the lineup of the last two games, Hoiberg said.
As for limitations on Rose's playing time, Hoiberg said that would be determined Tuesday "based on how he feels in the morning."
This would be Rose's first appearance in Portland since suffering a season-ending right knee injury there in November 2013. He missed last year's game at the Moda Center while recovering from a medial meniscus tear in the same knee.
Jump starts: The Bulls believe their stretch of four wins in five games is partially due to better starts and increased liveliness.
"We're 4-1 with the one loss to Golden State," Hoiberg said. "The energy has been the constant lately."
The Bulls have an experienced roster, but even veterans occasionally need reminders to bring it from the outset.
"Early on, we weren't the hardest-playing team every night," Jimmy Butler said. "At times, we take for granted how talented we are as a whole with all the guys on this roster and think we can come out and go through the motions. We dig ourselves a hole and think we can pick it up.
"Doesn't work like that. You have to come out from the jump and try to beat a team for all 48 minutes."
On guard: The Blazers are coming off back-to-back double-digit wins over the Clippers and Lakers. The Bulls backcourt will be challenged by Blazers guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, averaging 25.5 and 20.1 points.
The Blazers are a team in transition with four new starters this season. Only Lillard returned.
"I've been really impressed with the way they started the season," Hoiberg said. "Those two guards are really talented, and they can score as well as anyone in the league."
Dunleavy honored: In a return to one of his childhood home cities, Bulls swingman Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be inducted Tuesday into Jesuit High School's Hall of Fame. Dunleavy, whose father, Mike Sr., was the Blazers coach at the time, led Jesuit to its first boys basketball state championship in 1999.
Nick Daschel is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
