Noah loses cool, ends up on inactive list

PHILADELPHIA -- The Bulls usually appreciate how rookie Joakim Noah can provide an emotional lift with his outgoing personality.

On Friday, Noah let his emotions get the best of him. He was suspended by the team and placed on the inactive list for Friday's game at Philadelphia.

Noah admitted getting into a verbal altercation with assistant coach Ron Adams at the morning shootaround, but he chose not to provide many details.

"It was just a little altercation with one of the coaches," Noah said before the game. "I think I overreacted. I'll take the consequences when things like this happen. It's a learning experience and it won't happen again."

Noah sat behind the Bulls bench in street clothes. Teammate Joe Smith didn't think the incident flustered the Bulls or was a reason why they fell behind 25-7 at the start of the contest.

"I've been around long enough, I've seen worse," Smith said. "That wasn't really too bad. I think we just came out slow tonight."

The Bulls were already short-handed Friday because Luol Deng sat out his third game with left Achilles' tendinitis. Deng is optimistic he'll be ready to play Sunday in Atlanta.

Smith gets payback: Bulls forward Joe Smith has fond memories of playing in Philadelphia during the second half of last season, but he wasn't ready to take it easy on his ex-teammates.

"I still want to burn them," Smith said with a laugh. "When they came into Chicago earlier this year (on Nov. 2), I got so many phone calls from the guys in the other locker room on how they beat us. I figure a little payback is due."

Knicks' mistake erased: The league office decided to take no action on the Knicks' lineup mistake. The active roster submitted by New York before Tuesday's game at the United Center did not include Quentin Richardson, who started and scored 5 points.

"I understand what they're saying; it's more about the inactive list than the active list," Bulls coach Jim Boylan said. "I just wish the rules were a little bit clearer. If that's the case, there should be no active list, just have an inactive list."

Bull horns: Ben Gordon smacked his right elbow on the court after slipping on a wet spot in the fourth quarter. He was examined by a doctor following the game but wasn't concerned that the fall caused any damage. … Rookie Demetris Nichols was in uniform for the first time this season but did not play. … Friday's game ended with just two referees on the court after Eric Lewis left with an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter.