Hurt Hinrich still could play tonight
Tests performed on Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich showed nothing more than bruised ribs. He was expected to join the team in Portland late Tuesday and likely will be a game-time decision tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hinrich was injured in the second half of Monday's 118-108 victory at Seattle and sat out most of the fourth quarter.
While the rest of the team flew to Portland, Hinrich stayed behind to have tests at a Seattle hospital. Once those were complete, Hinrich made the three-hour drive from Seattle to Portland with assistant trainer Marc Boff.
There was more promising news on the injury front. Tyrus Thomas practiced Tuesday after sitting out against the Sonics with a sprained left foot. Andres Nocioni, who twisted his left ankle early in Monday's contest when he stepped on the foot of referee Greg Willard, also was able to practice.
Ben Wallace took a routine day off after piling up 10 rebounds (8 offensive), 7 assists, 7 points and 3 steals against Seattle.
Thabo defends Durant: Last Saturday in Sacramento, Thabo Sefolosha had a rough start guarding Kevin Martin. The Kings' shooting guard scored his team's first 7 points on 2 dunks and a 3-pointer.
It was a different story Monday in Seattle against star rookie Kevin Durant, who didn't score in the opening six minutes and managed just 1 shot attempt against Sefolosha. The second-year guard from Switzerland ended up leading the Bulls in minutes played with 36.
"(Durant) is a great player, so I was just really focused on not letting him get off early and try to get into his body on every play and try to wear him down a little bit," Sefolosha said following the game.
Sefolosha is the Bulls' tallest guard at 6-feet-7, and he figures to stay in the starting lineup permanently if he can play solid defense. Durant scored 11 of his 20 points while Sefolosha was in the game.
"I think on defense, it's just how much you want to do it," Sefolosha said. "I'm not afraid of anybody in this league. I think I can guard everybody at the two or three spots."
Duhon delivers late: Chris Duhon shot 20 percent from 3-point range (7-for-34) in January but drilled back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter of Monday's win over Seattle.
"I shot those without thinking about it," he said. "They were just rhythm shots. I was open and I let it go. Usually when I shoot it like that, I can get results. But when I start thinking too much, that's when I leave it short and just miss it."
Bull horns: The Bulls won for the first time this season when allowing 100 points. They are 1-18 in that circumstance, a fact coach Jim Boylan mentioned after Monday's game. … The Bulls' 23 offensive rebounds against Seattle were not a season high. They grabbed 24 against Atlanta on Nov. 27. … Three ex-Bulls made D-League all-star rosters: Andre Barrett, Randy Livingston and Kasib Powell.
Tonight's tipoff
Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden, 9 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: When the Bulls lost to Portland in double overtime at the United Center on Jan. 2, the Blazers were wrapping up a stretch in which they won 17 of 18 games. Since Jan. 13, however, Portland has gone 5-7 and would not make the playoffs in the Western Conference if the season ended today, despite its 27-20 record. Guard Brandon Roy (19.5 ppg) was selected as an all-star reserve in his second season.
Fast facts: The Blazers rank second in the league in 3-point shooting accuracy at 39 percent, but the Bulls might have an edge on the glass. Portland ranks 26th in rebounds per game, while the Bulls are the best at grabbing offensive boards.
Next: Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena, 9:30 p.m. Thursday
-- Mike McGraw