CLEVELAND– Derrick Rose is playing tonight against his former team, and it will be his first game action since the second contest of the season.
Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed during his pregame media availability that Rose would start against the New York Knicks. He has not seen the court since the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 20 after spraining his left ankle.
Lue said Rose will be playing anywhere from 28 to 30 minutes. That is a typical minutes restriction, and what the Cavs like to keep Rose at regardless.
“He’s healthy, he’s back, and we just have to see how he feels going through live play,” Lue said.
This will be the Cavs’ fifth different starting lineup in seven games. With Rose’s reemergence, however, Lue and the Cavs are no doubt hoping that Cleveland can get back to where they were after two wins to begin the season against the Bucks and Boston Celtics. Since that time, the Cavs have dropped three out of their last four games.
“I think you take into consideration the D-Rose injury and that really set us back,” Lue said. “I thought those first two games we were playing well, and especially defensively. After that, it’s been tough trying to maneuver guys in and out of the point guard position. There’s going to be ups and downs we knew that.”
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