Bulls Beat 76ers 103-91 to Open NBA Playoffs; Rose Injured

Derrick Rose scored 23 points before leaving with a knee injury as the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-91 in the opening game of the National Basketball Association playoffs.

Rose, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the Associated Press reported.

Rose was hurt with 70 seconds remaining at the United Center as he jumped to a stop after driving into the lane. He lay on the court for several minutes while being treated by team medical personnel before being helped to the locker room.

The extent of Rose’s injury was determined by an MRI exam, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said in his postgame news conference.

Rose also had nine rebounds and nine assists as the Bulls, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, never trailed after taking a 4-3 lead. Richard Hamilton added 19 points, Luol Deng scored 17 and Joakim Noah had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Elton Brand scored 19 points to lead eighth-seeded Philadelphia. Chicago hosts Game 2 in the best-of-seven, first- round series on May 1.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net