Timberwolves-Bulls Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO

(AP) -- Though naturally shaken by another injury to Derrick Rose, the rest of the Chicago Bulls can't allow the effects of his latest setback to linger.

Coming off a lackluster performance without him, the Bulls look to bounce back at home Friday night against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that appears to be rejuvenated from the return of Kevin Garnett.

Rose's teammates expressed shock Tuesday when hearing the 2011 NBA MVP needs surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. So maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise that the Bulls (36-22) looked flat in Wednesday's 98-86 home loss to Charlotte, which had lost five straight.

"We all were affected by it," said Pau Gasol, who had 25 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

While the team is obviously sympathetic toward Rose as he prepares to undergo his third knee surgery since 2012, they must find a way to remain a serious contender in the Eastern Conference during his indefinite absence.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," Gasol told the Bulls' official website. "We have to pick it back up, understand this is part of what we do. If we want an opportunity to do something this season, we need to pick it up and put that on the side and focus on winning games."

Though Chicago is 7-5 without Rose, who battled inconsistency while averaging 18.4 points in 46 games, it must quickly regroup after losing for the second time in eight games.

The Bulls went a season-worst 3 of 17 from 3-point range and 15 of 23 at the free-throw line Wednesday. Starting in place of Rose, Aaron Brooks had 12 points but shot 4 of 12, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.

"We've got to play a lot harder," said center Joakim Noah, who had four points but 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. "Mentally, I think we were a little bit drained with everything that happened. I just know we have to play a lot harder if we're going to be successful."

The loss was the Bulls' second straight against a team below .500. They're 19-11 in such contests and needed Jimmy Butler's two free throws with 0.2 seconds left to win 106-105 at Minnesota (13-43) on Nov. 1.

Rose also missed that game as Butler scored 24, Gasol added 20 and Brooks had 16 for the Bulls, who overcame blowing a 16-point lead as well as Kevin Martin's 33 points. Minnesota's lone win in the last nine meetings came last season at Chicago.

Martin had 28 points in Wednesday's 97-77 home rout of Washington, but the night belonged to Garnett. Acquired from Brooklyn for Thaddeus Young last week, Garnett had five points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 18 minutes in his first game with Minnesota since the club traded him to Boston in July 2007.

Garnett, who turns 39 in May, received a number of standing ovations and serenades of "KG! KG! KG!"

"It was a good night for everyone involved, now hopefully we can continue to build on this momentum," said Garnett, drafted fifth overall by Minnesota in 1995 after playing his senior year of high school in Chicago.

Winners in five of eight, the Timberwolves are excited to have the franchise's most popular player back in town.

"He made everybody go harder, work harder," said rookie Andrew Wiggins, who has averaged 23.0 points in the last three games. "It rubs off."