"In between watching "Saved by the Bell'' reruns on his day off, Derrick Rose caught a glimpse of his friend Russell Westbrook's benching during the Thunder's Game 2 victory in Dallas.

Rose last heard from Westbrook, his offseason workout partner in Los Angeles, when Westbrook sent a text message congratulating Rose on being named MVP.

"My advice to Russell would be to just keep playing,'' Rose said Friday. "Russ is a unique talent, a good guy and a hard worker. If anything, I think they'll find their way.''

Thunder coach Scott Brooks stuck with backup point guard Eric Maynor for the entire fourth quarter after Westbrook struggled in the third. Cameras caught Westbrook voicing his displeasure with Brooks' decision.

Rose was asked how he would react in a similar situation.

"Anything to win,'' Rose said. "I wouldn't be mad.

"If things are rolling … if anything, I want rest. So if you're telling me that C.J. (Watson) could close the game in the fourth quarter? Go ahead, please. Give me rest.''

Time off: Players reacted differently to the three-day break between Games 2 and 3. The Bulls took Thursday off, practiced Friday and will practice again Saturday before flying to Miami.

"I'm not going to lie: I like the days off," Joakim Noah said. "We lost the game (Wednesday), but we played very hard. We just have to play smarter at times. The days off let the hangover of the game not be a hangover."

After Game 3, only one day off is scheduled between all remaining games."