CHICAGO—Derrick Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Chicago Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs last night. Rose, who missed most of the preseason with an injured ankle, waved and blew a kiss toward the crowd before the opening tip. He then showed some of the explosiveness that carried him to the Rookie of the Year award last season. He had no trouble penetrating and delivered some dizzying spin moves that drew roars from the crowd, showing no signs of the right ankle pain that had bothered him the past few weeks.

MILWAUKEE - A Bucks official with knowledge of the deal said yesterday that Milwaukee plans to trade scoring forward Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. The person confirmed the pending trade to The Associated Press and requested anonymity because the deal is not yet official. The Bucks are sending Jefferson away less than a year after acquiring the scoring forward in a draft-day trade last season with New Jersey for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. Jefferson’s contract has two years and $29.2 million remaining.

SAN ANTONIO—Drew Gooden arrived at his sixth team in seven years today with the hope that he finally found a permanent home. The future can wait. The San Antonio Spurs got Gooden to win now. Finally getting the additional big man San Antonio had long been seeking, the Spurs signed Gooden for the remainder of the season after the 6-foot-10 power forward bought out his contract in Sacramento earlier this week.