Derrick Rose likely out Monday

Source: ESPNchicago.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will likely miss his seventh consecutive game Monday night because of a groin injury. He continued his rehabilitation during Sunday afternoon's light practice at the Berto Center, but coach Tom Thibodeau hinted that Rose will be unavailable to play against the Denver Nuggets. Thibodeau acknowledged that Rose hasn't done much running at all.

"Very little," Thibodeau said. "But he's at the next phase. (He's) just starting off with the running on a treadmill."

Rose, who has missed 16 games this season because of various injuries, admitted before Saturday night's win over the Toronto Raptorsthat his groin injury was a little more serious than initially thought.

"(I'm feeling) way better," Rose said. "(When the injury occurred) I was actually bleeding, my groin was bleeding, but now it's healed. It's just scar tissue and it's pretty hard trying to get that to move around, it's going to take little time."

Rose said he hadn't been given a timetable as to when he would be able to return.

"Not yet," he said. "These things, (the medical staff) was telling me there was no time period. People have healed in a couple of days, in my case it's taking a little bit of time."

Rose has been taking shots during practices and before games, but that's all he's been able to do since the initial injury during a March 12 game against the New York Knicks. The Bulls are now 12-4 without Rose this season.

"It's hard, it's definitely hard, but at the same time I'm happy that they're playing great," Rose said. "We're winning games. Of course I want to be out there, I hate being injured, but right now we're in a good groove."