Bulls roll on road without Rose

CHARLOTTE – In the case of Derrick Rose and his troublesome lower back, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau might have employed a little tomfoolery.

Both Thibodeau and Rose called his status a “game-time” decision at Friday morning’s shootaround.

But C.J. Watson put his right hand on the Bible after being asked about the difficulty of not knowing until shortly before tipoff whether he would start.

“I knew [Rose] wasn’t going to play,” Watson said after the Bulls crushed Charlotte, 95-64. “I knew that [Thursday] because we have a big game coming up against Boston [on Sunday].”

So Bulls fans who have been praying Thibodeau would rest Rose against horrid teams like the Bobcats got their wish.

Thanks to Watson’s passing and big numbers from Joakim Noah (17 points and 14 rebounds in 31 minutes), the Bulls did not miss Rose.

The Bulls didn’t even see him during the game. Rather than sit on the bench, Rose was with trainer Fred Tedeschi, apparently getting treatment on his back.

Thibodeau, speaking before Watson, did call the decision to sit Rose “precautionary. We just wanted to give him another day of rest and we will see where he is (Saturday).”

Rose slid out of the locker room while reporters circled around Luol Deng. Rose wore headphones and was flanked by security as he exited.

The Bulls are 5-1 without Rose, who said Friday morning his back, which limited him to 22 minutes Wednesday in the victory over the Hornets in New Orleans, was “the same … a little tight, but I should be able to deal with it.”

The Bulls had no trouble dealing with the 3-23 Bobcats, who lost for the 13th straight time. No Charlotte player hit more than four field goals, and both Bismack Biyombo and DeSagana Diop chucked airballs from the foul line.

No wonder owner Michael Jordan left his customary spot at the end of the bench at the half.

The Bulls held their fourth straight opponent below 91 points — and their second consecutive below 70. They extended an NBA record in winning their fourth consecutive road game — without a stop at home — by 20 or more points.