Noah returns from shoulder injury
Joakim Noah returned to the court Monday, exactly three weeks since suffering a left shoulder sprain on Dec. 21 against Brooklyn.
He checked in at the 4:33 mark of the first quarter to a loud ovation from fans at the United Center. Just over a minute later, Noah had a nice assist off a give-and-go to Tony Snell for a dunk. But Noah's first game action since the injury didn't go well.
The Bulls' second unit didn't show any of the success it had with Noah serving as primary playmaker before the injury. After an early burst of energy, the Bulls were on the wrong end of an 18-2 Washington run, struggling badly on the defensive end. Noah had 5 rebounds, 2 assists and no points during his 10 minutes of action in the first quarter.
Coach Fred Hoiberg used 10 players in the first half. Before the game, he was asked whether he talked to players who might get less time due to Noah's return.
“Yeah, we've talked to our guys,” Hoiberg said. “You know, we've played nine the last few games. We'll probably get back to playing 10. But yeah, it's going to obviously cut into some players' minutes, and a lot of that will just be by feel and how the flow of the game is going.”
Portis runs with Noah:
Bulls rookie Bobby Portis was asked Monday about getting a chance to play with Joakim Noah on the Bulls' second unit.
“The last time I played with Jo in a game was really my first time actually playing at the United Center,” he said. “That was against Brooklyn (on Dec. 21), and then he got hurt that game, and then he's been out. That's been a big piece of our team, missing him. We're going to be ready and just anxious to play.
“I'm not worried about minutes. The only thing I'm worried about is controlling what I can control and that's me coming in every day and working as hard as I can.”
Bulls might rest players:
The NBA tried to cut down on teams playing four games in five nights this season. But every team has to do it at least once and the Bulls' time arrives now.
After Washington on Monday, they visit Milwaukee on Tuesday, Philadelphia on Thursday, then host Dallas on Friday.
Before playing the Wizards, coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged the possibility of some players, mainly Pau Gasol or Derrick Rose, sitting out a game this week for extra rest.
“We have talked about it and again we'll see how tonight goes, how (Tuesday) goes, and just kind of take it day by day,” Hoiberg said. “I think that's the approach that we're taking with this right now. We'll talk to our guys about how their bodies are feeling and we'll make that determination as this stretch goes on.”
Bull horns:
The Wizards have been hit hard by injuries. Top scorer Bradley Beal missed his 16th games with a stress reaction in his right leg, while center Marcin Gortat was scratched Monday with a sore right knee. … Derrick Rose started the night needing 13 points to pass Ben Gordon for 10th place on the Bulls' all-time scoring list. He got there before the end of the first half.