Rose excused from rookie challenge

Here’s some news heading into the Bulls’ triumphant return to the United Center on Tuesday against the L.A. Clippers:

--The NBA gave Derrick Rose a pass for the rookie-sophomore game, replacing him with Golden State’s Anthony Morrow. In the past, the league made players selected for the rookie challenge and main all-star game to play in both. Portland’s Brandon Roy was the last to do it in 2008.

But Rose may have earned his way out because he’s also participating in the skills challenge on all-star Saturday night. Speaking of which…

--The other competitors for the skills challenge were announced Tuesday: Phoenix’ Steve Nash, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Utah’s Deron Williams. Rose won the event last year as a rookie.

--Looking around the league, nba.com is reporting that Boston’s Paul Pierce could miss a significant amount of time with a broken bone in his foot. The situation is still being evaluated.

The Bulls don’t face the Celtics again until the last home game of the regular season on April 13. But if Pierce is out for long, the Celtics are certainly in danger of dropping out of the top four seeds in the East. They had already gone 7-11 since Dec. 26.

--This could be a dangerous game for the Bulls. The first game home after a long road trip always seems to be a tough assignment, while the Clippers are 7-2 at the United Center since the 2000-01 season.

Both of the Bulls’ wins during that stretch were great escapes in overtime. Bulls fans probably recall Ben Gordon sending last season’s game to overtime with a late 4-point play, courtesy of a reach-in foul by Eric Gordon.

The Bulls’ other win during the 2003-04 season required a late 3-pointer by Jannero Pargo to tie the score late in the fourth quarter.