USA - Rose returns

CHICAGO (NBA) - After missing the 2012 London Olympics and then an entire season while recovering from a serious knee injury, Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose is back in action.

The point guard made his long-awaited return to the hardwood on Saturday in a pre-season game against the Indiana Pacers and had 13 points in an 82-76 Bulls victory.

It was the first time that Rose, the NBA's MVP in 2011, played in a contest since late April of 2012, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

He didn't hold anything back in more than 20 minutes against the Pacers.

On one play early on, Rose dribbled into the lane, jumped and collided with Indiana center Roy Hibbert before missing his shot.

He grabbed the rebound, however, and put the ball right back up and in for a basket.

"That's the way I've been playing in practice, just attacking," Rose said.

"I'm not slowing down. I don't care who is in the hole. If they're going to foul me hard, I'm just going to get up and keep going hard at them."

Saturday was an important step on the comeback trail, yet Rose will know that he still has a lot of work to do.

The season is going to be long and hard.

In every game that he plays, though, the USA international will grow in confidence.

"I feel great, kind of relieved," Rose said.

"I can continue with my training, knowing that I got one game out of the way. And we're just trying to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time, knowing the number one goal is a championship.''

Chicago's first regular season game is on 29 October as they play away against the two-time defending champions Miami Heat.

FIBA