Bulls' veterans call for team meeting

Following a light workout at Georgia Tech's practice facility Saturday, the Bulls held a players-only meeting, while coaches, trainers, support staff and media waited outside in a hallway.

Whether the No. 1 topic was getting back into the playoff race or not yelling at your assistant coach was left to the imagination. Probably a combination of both.

"It's great to see," coach Jim Boylan said. "It's what you want; you want guys to take ownership of their team."

"Our two elder statesmen -- Adrian (Griffin) and Ben (Wallace) -- they brought everybody together and just said their little piece," Joe Smith added. "Hopefully we can take something from it. Even after a win, at times, you still need to talk about some things that may have went wrong."

Rookie Joakim Noah was inactive for Friday's 100-97 victory at Philadelphia after getting into a verbal altercation with assistant coach Ron Adams at shootaround. But all was forgiven by Saturday.

Atlanta (15-17) sits in eighth place in the East. So if the Bulls (14-20) can extend their 12-game winning streak against the Hawks this afternoon, they'll pull within a game of the final playoff spot.

Yes, the Eastern Conference is that bad.

Deng expected back: Luol Deng practiced and shot around Saturday, so the Bulls expect him to be able to play today in Atlanta. Deng has missed the past three games with left Achilles' tendinitis.

Ben Gordon had a sore right elbow after a hard fall in the fourth quarter of Friday's game, but he participated in practice and should be fine.

Thabo's time is brief: Coach Jim Boylan is bringing second-year guard Thabo Sefolosha along slowly. His 13 minutes against the 76ers was the most playing time Sefolosha has received since Dec. 21.

"I think it's a gradual thing with Thabo," Boylan said. "He's starting to find his place in the rotation. As long as he continues to play within himself on the offensive end, which he did (against Philadelphia), I see his minutes increasing."

Bull horns: Ben Wallace collected 8 rebounds in Friday's win over Philadelphia, ending a personal string of seven straight games with double-figure boards. … Rookie center Aaron Gray has scored 20 points in 23 minutes during the past two games. Friday was the Allentown, Pa., native's first NBA appearance in his home state.

Today's tipoff

Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena, 1 p.m.

TV: Channel 9

Radio: WMVP 1000-AM

Update: The Hawks (15-17) lost twice Friday. The league ruled that the final 51.9 seconds of Atlanta's overtime win against Miami on Dec. 19 will have to be replayed because Shaquille O'Neal was mistakenly disqualified with 6 fouls when he only had 5. Then the Hawks dropped a 102-98 overtime decision to Washington that night, which means the Bulls can close within a game of the No. 8 spot in the East with a win today.

Fast facts: The Bulls have won 12 straight against the Hawks. … Atlanta SF Josh Smith has averaged 29.3 points in his last three games.

Next: Orlando Magic at Amway Arena, 6 p.m. Tuesday

-- Mike McGraw