Will Rose play Monday?

Another day, another injury update for the Bulls.

The most pressing issue in every fan's mind after Saturday's home loss to New Jersey is when Derrick Rose will return from back spasms.

There's no way of knowing for sure, but Monday against Atlanta appears to be a possibility. Rose has missed five straight games.

“Again, he's making progress. Everyday he's better,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau after the contest. “We just have to be patient and when they say he can go, he can go. We have more than enough to win with. We have injuries. We've had them before. Everyone has to be ready to play.”

During the game, point guard C.J. Watson took a blow to the head late in the third quarter and did not return. He was driving around a pick when he ran into Kris Humphries' chest with no foul called.

“It hurts. I've got a little migraine,” said Watson, who otherwise appeared to be fine.

Luol Deng was examined by the trainer in the fourth quarter. He was hit in the side of the head, but also seemed to be OK after game.

“I'll be fine,” he said. “I think I got elbowed or something. I don't know.”

Thibs chases century mark:If the Bulls go 13-3 in their next 16 games, Tom Thibodeau will match Avery Johnson's NBA mark for reaching 100 wins faster than any other head coach.Thibodeau's record was 87-28 after Saturday's loss. Johnson, now coach of the Nets, started 100-31 with Dallas.Noah's energy lacking:Coach Tom Thibodeau on center Joakim Noah going scoreless in 21 minutes of action Saturday:#8220;The big thing with Jo is his energy. That's what he gives us,#8221; he said. #8220;He didn't have his normal energy tonight and we needed it. He'll bounce back. It's one of those games, you get down like that, you start searching. That's what we did and we were looking for any sort of spark we could get.#8221;D-Will's eye on Illini:New Jersey guard Deron Williams, who helped lead Illinois to the national championship game in 2005, said he'd be disappointed if Illini coach Bruce Weber is fired, as has been widely speculated.#8220;He's in a tough situation,#8221; Williams told espn.com. #8220;I'd be very disappointed. That's my coach, and it would be hard for me. I would still support the program, but it would be hard.#8221;Bull horns:Until dishing out 11 and 10 assists in the previous two contests, Luol Deng had never had more than 8 assists in 508 career games. ... Nets center Brook Lopez, out all year with a broken right foot, is expected to return any day.