Carlos Boozer posted 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 53-50 halftime lead over the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night at United Center.
Joakim Noah added 10 points and five rebounds as the Bulls enjoyed a 24-14 rebounding edge.
But coach Tom Thibodeau can't be happy with the defense. Nicolas Batum's 15 points led Portland, which shot 48.8 percent.
As expected, Derrick Rose sat with his strained groin for a second straight game. C.J. Watson started in his place at point guard despite re-aggravating his sprained left ankle in the first quarter of Wednesday's game against the Heat.
Though the Bulls are calling Rose day-to-day, it's extremely unlikely Rose will play Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.
"We'll see," Thibodeau said. "Just day-to-day. See where he is. We want him to make steady improvement. And when he's ready to go, he'll go."
Management is taking a very conservative approach with Rose's injury, which he suffered in Monday's victory over the New York Knicks. Though he will travel on the Bulls' upcoming two-game trip to Orlando and Toronto, his availability is uncertain.
The Bulls are facing a Portland team that went through massive change on Thursday, trading Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby and firing coach Nate McMillan. Former video coordinator Kaleb Canales got hired as interim head coach.
"It's definitely tough because it's like a shock to your family," former Bull Jamal Crawford said of the changes. "We spend so much time together."
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
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