Derrick Rose didn't think his left ankle injury was that big of a deal after the Chicago Bulls' 103-95 Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
It turns out that he was right.
Rose, who is expected to be named MVP on Tuesday, had an X-Ray on the sprained left ankle. The results were negative. No further tests are expected for Rose, who is expected to participate in practice on Tuesday.
Chicago's leading scorer turned the ankle in the final seconds of Atlanta's upset win. He stepped on the foot of Jamal Crawford as he tried to steal the ball -- a somewhat puzzling gesture in a game that was well out of hand for the Bulls.
Rose limped awkwardly off of the court with the assistance of the team's trainer and other Chicago players. His injury capped a frustrating night for the Bulls' best player. Although Rose finished with 24 points, one point off of his season average, he struggled in the first quarter, missing his first seven shots from the field and finished with no points.
Chicago and Atlanta renew their rivalry in Game 2 on Wednesday. The Bulls and Hawks tip off from the United Center at 8 p.m. Eastern. The game will be on TNT and 97.9 FM.
For more on the series, visit SB Nation's NBA hub, Peachtree Hoops, Blog-a-Bull, and SB Nation Chicago.