DRose fine after playing heavy minutes in return from groin injury

NEW YORK — Derrick Rose played 38 minutes, 37 seconds Sunday against the New York Knicks after missing 12 consecutive games with a groin injury, but he said he didn’t think about the injury during the game, felt fine afterward and didn’t anticipate soreness Monday.

Rose had 29 points, six rebounds and four assists but committed eight turnovers.

‘‘I felt good,’’ Rose said. ‘‘My wind was OK. It just felt good to be out there.’’

Coach Tom Thibodeau said he had trainer Fred Tedeschicheck to see how Rose was feeling throughout the game.

‘‘It was about what we expected,’’ Thibodeau said of Rose’s performance. ‘‘Some good, some bad. Handling the ball was a problem.’’

Energy depleted

Center Joakim Noah usually brings so much energy to the court that it’s obvious when he doesn’t. Such was the case Sunday, when he played less than 27 minutes and sat out much of the fourth quarter before making key plays late in regulation and in overtime.

‘‘When you’re an energy player, you have to bring it every game,’’ Thibodeau said. ‘‘He’s shown that when he plays with great energy, he’s terrific. And when he’s playing with great energy, we’re playing with great energy. It wasn’t only him; it was our entire team.’’

Noah had 10 points and five rebounds to go with two turnovers.

‘‘I know I can play better,’’ said Noah, who spent much of his childhood in New
York, rooting for the
Knicks. ‘‘I want to be out there more, too.’’

Take the two

Knicks star Carmelo Anthony made a three-pointer to tie the score in regulation and another to win the game in overtime.

‘‘You can’t be giving up that shot,’’ Thibodeau grumbled. ‘‘It’s the only thing that gets you in trouble is the three. You don’t give it up. You make them drive. You make them take the two.’’

The three-pointer that tied the score was a 27-footer.

‘‘I don’t even know how far he shot it from,’’ said forward Luol Deng, who was guarding Anthony on the play. ‘‘He made some tough shots throughout the whole game. I knew he was looking for the shot. Just because it was two steps behind the three[-point line], I was back, but I should’ve been up on him.’’

Home-court edge

The Bulls own the best record in the league. If that remains the case, they will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

‘‘You want to be playing your best basketball at the end, and you want to be as healthy as possible,’’ Thibodeau said when asked about the importance of the home-court edge. ‘‘It’s important to put as many things in your favor as possible while keeping in mind the health component and playing well.’’