Howard Knocks Out Rose Again

ORLANDO -- As teammates for the Eastern Conference, Dwight Howard talked to Chicago's young Derrick Rose at All-Star Weekend, almost apologizing for knocking him on his rear end just a couple days before. He also gave him some advice about driving the lane against shot blocking centers like him.

Rose obviously didn't listen.

Just a month after he did it the first time, Howard knocked Rose out of a Magic-Bulls game early again Thursday night, sending him into the locker room for treatment.

At least this time, Rose finished the first quarter.

Both departures came after drives to the basket that Howard was determined to protect. On Feb. 10, in the last game before the All-Star break, Rose went up for a layup just three minutes into the game, only to have Howard knock him hard to the floor, sustaining a painful hip injury. He took one free throw and left the game.

Although Rose played in the All-Star Game, he withdrew from both the Rookie/Sophomore game and the Skills Challenge because of the hip injury.



ShareThis time it happened at the end of the first quarter, Howard coming across the lane to block his shot, putting him on the floor again, this time with a painful left wrist injury. Rose missed one free throw and made the second.

Rose, who left the arena Thursday night with his wrist in a splint, is doubtful for Friday's game in Miami. Although X-rays were negative, he is scheduled for an MRI in Miami on Friday.

He declined any comment after the game, a 111-82 victory by the Magic.

"As a big man, you never want to hurt anyone. But I told him at All-Star Weekend, if you come down the lane, you should jump off of two feet and not one, because you can protect yourself better that way,'' Howard said. "We're cool. You never want to see anyone get hurt like that.''

The loss of Rose sealed the fate of the Bulls Thursday night. They already were without Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) and Luol Deng (strained calf). Now without their three best players, they had no chance against the Magic, the hottest team in the East.

The Bulls, still clinging to playoff hopes, lost their sixth consecutive game.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro would not speculate on how long he could be without Rose, but he lamented the loss. He didn't think the foul by Howard was excessive. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he thought that Rose actually had pushed off against Howard.

"He [Rose] goes in there with such unbelievable force that it was the same as the other night [a month ago],'' Van Gundy said. "He's going full speed, and he's hitting basically an immovable object.''

Earlier in the day, Rose had spoke admiringly about Howard, and how much he respected his game. He waved off any questions after the game as he was leaving the locker room Thursday night.

"He came full speed, but he hit something that doesn't move,'' Howard said. "I really pride myself on being an eraser, of blocking shots and protecting the basket. We talked about that earlier."