Derrick Rose Has Career High 42 Points In Bulls Win Over Spurs

The Bulls made a statement by winning their final game before the All-Star break, 109-99 over the San Antonio Spurs, who came into the game with the NBA's best road record.

Derrick Rose had a career-high 42 points and Luol Deng had 19, including a couple of key threes in the fourth quarter. The Bulls never really trailed in the game and stretched out their lead to as much as 14 in the fourth quarter before winning by 10.

That gives the Bulls a 38-16 record going into the break, which puts them on pace for 58 wins and there's a real shot that they could win 60 for the first time since... well, you know when. They improved their home record to 25-4.

Now, let's talk about the TNT national broadcast. Besides the bizarre pregame show which had the announcers and guests sitting in front of what looked like a pile of gravel on fire, can someone please tell Turner that Dick Stockton is no longer a competent professional sports announcer? He butchers the MLB playoffs, and appeared to be rooting for the Spurs through half the game (saying "finally!" when one of them hit a three). Seriously -- the NBA can do better than this.

So the Bulls go into the break on a high note; Rose will represent the team well in the game and hopefully, Joakim Noah will be at 100% for the next regular season game next Wednesday in Toronto.

Chicago Bulls Vs. San Antonio Spurs: A TNT National TV Date

Well, this one got the national network's attention. There are only two NBA games tonight, both on TNT as the national doubleheader, and the Bulls and Spurs will lead it off at 7 p.m. CST.

The Bulls took an early lead on the Spurs in their only meeting so far this year in San Antonio, but the Spurs were too much for the Bulls in the fourth quarter and won 103-94. That's not too surprising -- the Spurs are 25-2 at home, losing only to the Hornets and Mavericks, and not at all since Nov. 26. They also have the league's best road record at 21-7.

But the Bulls are right behind San Antonio for best home record at 24-4; the losses are to the Knicks and Magic, and then inexplicably to the Clippers and Bobcats. The Bulls will have to step up their game, the same way they did in beating the Celtics at the UC on Jan. 8.

Don't expect Joakim Noah tonight -- they're saving him for the first game after the break on Feb. 23:

Joakim Noah engaged in a spirited game of one-on-one with Brian Scalabrine following the morning shootaround, but won't play until the first game after the break in Toronto.

"He's close," Thibodeau said. "We're happy where he is with his recovery."

Tonight is must-see TV, anyway -- again, it's at 7 p.m. CST on TNT.