Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose did not garner an All-Star berth, but he starred on Thursday in the league’s last game before the mid-season showcase.
Rose scored 30 points and handed out seven assists to lead the Bulls to a 113-98 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tony Snell contributed 22 points on nine-of-11 shooting for the Bulls, while Pau Gasol — who did get an All-Star nod — notched his 14th straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Joakim Noah added 10 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for Chicago, who head into the All-Star break leading the Cavs by one-and-a-half games atop the Central Division.
James scored a game-high 31 points, but committed eight of Cleveland’s 16 turnovers.
Fellow All-Star Kyrie Irving added 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds, but it was not enough to fend off the Cavs’ second loss in 16 games.
Chicago were without Jimmy Butler, sidelined with a strained right shoulder, while Cleveland’s Kevin Love sat out with a corneal abrasion he suffered on Wednesday when he was accidentally poked in the eye by an opponent.
The contest was the only game on Thursday’s slate, with regular-season action not to resume until Thursday next week.
All-Star weekend festivities were to kick off in New York yesterday with the Rising Stars Challenge at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Today’s events include the always-entertaining slam-dunk contest, while the 64th All-Star Game is to be played tomorrow at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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