NBA on Dec. 26: Bulls fans cheer 'MVP' for Rose

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The 2018-19 NBA regular season finished Wednesday with 10 games. Derrick Rose returned to the United Center, home court of the Chicago Bulls and helped the Minnesota Timberwolves claim an easy win of 119-94 while receiving the "MVP" while being cheered on by local fans. Dirk Nowitzki played his 1,477th regular season game in which the Dallas Mavericks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 122-119.

Bulls fans never forget about their hero

Derrick Rose (C) of the Minnesota Timberwolves enters the court before the away game against the Chicago Bulls. /VCG Photo

Rose dropped Minnesota's highest 24 points plus three rebounds and eight assists. Karl Anthony-Towns took a double 20 in scoring and rebounding. Andrew Wiggins failed to continue his hot hands from the last game and only scored 14 points by making five of his total 15 shots.

Zach Lavine came back from an injury for Chicago and put down the court's highest 28 points however, the team's first squad shot poorly and in total scored 42 points. Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. were the only two players besides Lavine to score double digits respectively with 16 and 12 points.

Rose #25 shoots under defense. /VCG Photo

It did not take the Timberwolves much effort to take an easy win over the Bulls and this game belong to Rose who spent his best and worst years in Chicago. "This is home for me. I'll never leave Chicago. I still have a place here. I'm always going to have a place here. My son is being raised here," said Rose before the game. He also bought 50 tickets for the game so his family and friends who still live in Chicago can watch him play.

The Bulls gave Rose a warm welcome home. Instead of randomly reading the visiting team's players' names in a relatively low voice, the United Center left Rose for the last with "No.25, from Chicago, Derrick Rose!". Fans inside the stadium stood up with a thunderous applause for the youngest MVP in NBA history.

Rose and his MVP trophy in the 2010-11 NBA playoffs when he was still playing for the Bulls /VCG Photo

Rose responded to fans' support with a remarkable performance of 11/19 for field goals. With five minutes and 26 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Rose made a 2+1 with penetration. As he stood onto the free-throw line, fans started to shout "MVP" for him. "You're the real MVP!" "Welcome home, Derrick!"

Since he was selected by the Bulls as the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose reignited Chicago's passion for basketball and led the team forward to the throne until injuries teared their dream. However, fans did not forget the happiness and excitement Rose had brought them. Neither did Rose forget what this city had meant to him. "It made me reminisce about some of the old days. With the year I'm having, it's very special to come back here and play," said Rose after the game.

Mavericks witness Nowitzki's new record with a win

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks /VCG Photo

One-year rookie Luka Doncic made big contributions to the win by Dallas with 21 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, nearly a triple-double. DeAndre Jordan dropped a double-double too with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The team's two veteran players, 34-year-old J.J. Barea and 35-year-old Devin Harris delivered key performances by scoring respectively 18 and 16 points.

New Orleans went through another similar loss that they had experienced too much this season. Anthony Davis put down MVP-level 32 points and 18 rebounds while Jrue Holiday (25 points, five rebounds and six assists) and Julius Randle (23 points, four rebounds and three assists) did their best. However, none of the rest of the team was able to stand out with only Jackson scoring the fourth highest points of only 10.

Luka Doncic of the Mavericks handles the ball in the game. /VCG Photo

The game was in a stalemate for 48 minutes. The Mavericks in the fourth quarter seized the winning chance thanks to some consecutive three-pointers made by Barea and Harris. As Davis missed the last two 3-pt shots, the Pelicans had to accept their fifth straight loss.

The Mavericks' legend Dirk Nowitzki played 11 minutes in the game and scored seven points, one rebound and one assist. Besides the victory, the 40-year-old German power forward would be happy to learn that he passed Karl Malone in total regular season games played and ranked No.4 in history with 1,477 games. Considering that he was only 27 games behind No.3 John Stockton (1,504), there's a very good chance that Nowitzki will pass the NBA assists leader after this season.

Nowitzki passes Karl Malone and ranks No.4 on NBA's All-Time Games Played standings by playing 1,477 regular games. /VCG Photo

Moreover, the victory on Wednesday was also the 900th win of Nowitzki and placed him No.6 in the league's history. However, as No.5 Malone won in total 952 games in his career, it's already impossible for the German to challenge him this season as Dallas already played 33 of their 82 games.

Other games on Wednesday included: (away teams are named first)

Washington Wizards 95-106 Detroit Pistons

Phoenix Suns 122-120 Orlando Magic

Indiana Pacers 129-121 Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Hornets 132-134 Brooklyn Nets

Toronto Raptors 106-104 Miami Heat

Cleveland Cavaliers 87-95 Memphis Grizzlies

Denver Nuggets 103-111 San Antonio Spurs

Sacramento Kings 118-127 Los Angeles Clippers