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Preview Story: Trail Blazers - Bulls

Portland, Ore. – The last time Derrick Rose visited the Rose City, he left on unpleasant terms, enduring his second consecutive season ending injury. On Friday, he will look for a different result when the Chicago Bulls visit the Portland Trail Blazers for a 7:30 pm tip-off at Moda Center.

Portland, winners of five straight, are facing their own string of injuries, having played the last four games without starting small forward Nicolas Batum, who is recovering from a right knee injury sustained on November 9 against Denver. Allen Crabbe, who was inactive for five of Portland's first seven games, has been starting in his place. Crabbe is averaging 5.0 points and just over 2.3 rebounds per game, and the Trail Blazers have gone 4-0 with him in the starting lineup lineup.

On Tuesday, Portland learned they will also be without second-year guard CJ McCollum for at least four weeks after he fractured his right index finger.

Despite the injuries, Portland (8-3) has a four-game lead in the Northwest Division over Utah and Oklahoma City.

Chicago also comes into the matchup red hot, with a perfect road record of 7-0. Despite Rose having missed six games this year due to various ailments, the Bulls have a 1.5 game lead over Milwaukee in the Central Division.

The Bulls have been led by Jimmy Butler, the fourth-year swingman out of Marquette. Butler, who came into the season with a career scoring average of 9.4 points per game, is averaging 21.3 to start the season.

Both teams enter the game having faced various injuries, but appear to be hitting their respective strides. It will be a battle of strength-vs-strength: Chicago’s perfect start on the road will be tested against Portland’s 7-1 home record.

The matchup between Trail Blazers and Bulls will be the first of the season, after Portland swept the two-game series with Chicago last season. After Chicago, Portland embarks on their first road trip of the season, a three-game Eastern swing; Chicago is in the middle of a six game trip.