National Basketball Association

Rose out for Chicago; Nuggets' Billups sidelined

Published Nov. 27, 2010 2:13 a.m. ET

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Derrick Rose was scratched from the Chicago Bulls' lineup against Denver on Friday because of a stiff neck.

Rose, who scored 35 points in Wednesday's double-overtime victory at Phoenix, woke up Friday with neck pain. He may have slept on his neck wrong, a team spokesman said.

C.J. Watson was slated to start in the place of Rose, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring (26.3 points per game) and eighth in assists (8.3 per game).

Meanwhile, Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups missed a second consecutive game with a sprained right wrist and broken nose sustained last Saturday against New Jersey.

Taj Gibson, who missed the Phoenix game with a sore right ankle, was back in the starting lineup Friday for the Bulls.

Chicago also announced the signing of guard John Lucas III. He was with the Bulls in the preseason and averaged 2.2 points in limited action in five exhibition games. Lucas was on the active roster for the game Friday.