Most Valuable Player favorite Derrick Rose will be under the bright lights of the Big Apple when the Bulls visit Madison Square Garden to face Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks, on Tuesday night.

Rose continues to prove he's worthy of MVP honors. Chicago has the best record in the Eastern Conference, and Rose is averaging 25.1 points per game, and 7.8 assists.

In the Bulls' last game, Rose went for 39 points, on 13-of-17 shooting, on Orlando's home court.

Rose has even stepped up his free-throw shooting. After the Bulls lost to the Knicks on Christmas, Rose had a free-throw percentage of 75.8 percent. Since then, he has shot 89.7 percent from the line.

The Knicks were able to win that game, as well as when the two teams played in Chicago in November.

As the Bulls simply improved under Rose's impressive play, the Knicks had a makeover after the All-Star break. Some may say that what New York gained in Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, they barely made up for in their lack of depth.

However, the Knicks' bench has been productive lately. The bench has averaged 43.8 points per game in the past five games.

In his last five games, back-up point guard Toney Douglas is averaging 16 points per game. Meanwhile, the Knicks have won their last two games without star big man Amare Stoudemire.

Nursing a sprained ankle, Stoudemire is expected to miss the game.

Meanwhile, Anthony has been flourishing in Stoudemire's absence. The Knicks' forward is coming a 34-point performance against the Indiana Pacers in which he hit the game-winning shot.

Both teams have clinched a spot in the playoffs with Chicago set to play Indiana in the first round, while the Knicks will either play Miami or Boston.

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