Thursday 1 November 2018 10:34, UK
Derrick Rose rolled back time on Wednesday night as he poured in a career-high 50 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-125 win over the Utah Jazz.
An emotional Rose was in tears after the game as he walked off the court serenaded by chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the home crowd.
The 30-year-old point guard Rose has been besieged by injury since winning the league's MVP award while with the Chicago Bulls in 2011.
He had 34 points in the second half and 15 in a tightly contested fourth quarter as the Wolves held off the Jazz, who waived Rose in February after a two-day stint.
Rose shot 19 of 31 from the field and hit four 3-pointers in 41 minutes, his most game time in nearly two years.
His basket down low with 30 seconds remaining put Minnesota up for good, and he made two free throws with 13.8 seconds left to make it a three-point lead and then sealed the win by blocking Dante Exum's 3-pointer with about two seconds remaining.
"This means everything," said Rose, who was making his first start of the season. "I worked my butt off, bro.
"I am doing everything just to win. I played my heart out tonight.
"My team-mates told me before the game to just play my game and it was a hell of a night.
Rose has dealt with four knee surgeries, has had ankle issues and was forced to sit out nearly two full seasons when he should have been in his prime.
The Wolves mobbed Rose on the floor when it was over. They drenched him with water in the locker room while around the league players showed their love.
His former Cleveland Cavaliers team-mate LeBron James said of Rose's performance: "You talk about perseverance, that's the true definition of it.
"To have the battles and battles with his injuries, to be able to come back and no matter what everybody else was talking about - the majority is always people who never stepped into the arena - had so many things to say bad about him And what he should do; he should do this or do that.
"For him to set a career high tonight, in a win in Minnesota, I think that's unbelievable.
"I think every kid, you don't even have to play sports, any kid going through anything in life with adversity, triumph, trying to get over the hump, you can look at that performance by Derrick Rose.
"That's why our game is so unbelievable.
"Even when a superhero is knocked down, he's still a superhero at the end of the day. Derrick Rose showed why he's still a superhero."
Click play on the video above to watch Rose's inspirational 50-point game for the Timberwolves.
Watch the Detroit Pistons take on the Philadelphia 76ers via a free live stream on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app on Saturday at 5pm
On Saturday November 10, you will be able to follow the Milwaukee Bucks @ Los Angeles Clippers, also available on a free live stream, from 8:30pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app.
Sky Sports is the new home of the NBA in the UK with live coverage throughout the week, including selected live games free to all Sky subscribers via Sky Sports Mix.
And www.skysports.com/nba will be your home for news, reports, video and features throughout the season while you can follow us @SkySportsNBA
