Bulls rest up, but Raptors keep pressure on

After a micro-practice at the Berto Center on Monday, Bulls center Brad Miller hurried out the door, wearing a Ryan Theriot jersey and carrying an ice bag for his sore knee. An avid Cubs fan, Miller was headed for Opening Day at Wrigley Field.

Teammate Joakim Noah, on the other hand, sat on the practice court and watched a small forward one-on-one tournament between James Johnson, Joe Alexander and newcomer Rob Kurz.

Then Noah lifted some weights, hung out in the training room and got a massage. One day after piling up 18 points, 19 rebounds and 7 assists in a season-saving win at Toronto, Noah was in no hurry to go anywhere.

"It's a good time of year," Noah said. "I think we're playing real good. I'm going to get as much rest as I can and get ready for tomorrow."

The theme for the day was a simple one: There was reason to be happy about Sunday's 104-88 win at Toronto, which lifted the Bulls a game ahead of the Raptors for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But they can't be too happy, because they haven't clinched anything yet.

Toronto (39-42) stepped it up Monday with a 111-97 victory at Detroit, snapping a five-game losing streak. That means the Bulls (39-41) pretty much have to win their final two games, against Boston at the United Center on Tuesday and Charlotte on the road Wednesday. If the Bulls slip up even once, the Raptors can claim the No. 8 playoff seed by beating New York at home on Wednesday.

Noah said he planned to send a text to former teammate Ben Gordon, wishing him luck against Toronto on Monday. It didn't help, although Gordon did score 24 points.

"We've got a huge game against Boston," Noah added. "It's going to be exciting, a playoff atmosphere and all that. I think everybody's a little sore, a little tired, but it's going to be easy to get up for that game."

Guard Derrick Rose, who scored 26 points against Toronto, echoed similar feelings.

"We're happy, but we've still got two important games ahead of us that we've got to take control of pretty early," he said. "We know that we've got to come out with a lot of energy, just play together, have trust, believe in each other and look forward to being in the playoffs."

It's also tough to tell if the Bulls got back on track against Toronto, following three lackluster performances earlier in the week, or if the Raptors have become pushovers since losing all-star forward Chris Bosh due to facial fractures.

"We played a team that was without their best player," Noah said. "A lot of things went our way. We've just got to find a way to win the next two. There are really no excuses. Losing to New Jersey (on Friday) was just a disaster."

The Bulls haven't seen the Celtics since winning in Boston on Jan. 14. The Celtics (50-30) still have a chance to catch Atlanta for the No. 3 playoff seed in the East, so they're likely to play their full lineup against the Bulls.

JJ ready for action: Rookie forward James Johnson hasn't played in the last two games, so it's easy to assume that he can no longer be effective with a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

But Johnson was going full speed Monday, taking on teammates Joe Alexander and Rob Kurz in a rotating one-on-one game.

"It feels a lot better. Actually, I barely notice it," Johnson said of his foot. "I just feel a little bit rusty. That's about it. I just feel slow on it maybe, if that's a good way to put it. If I make a move, it feels like they catch up to me faster than they used to. Hopefully during playoff time, if I get a shot, I'll be ready."

The Bulls might need all the help they can get if they draw LeBron James in the playoffs.

See Red returns: If the Bulls clinch a playoff spot, tickets for the first two rounds will go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. at TicketMaster outlets, the United Center box office, Online at bulls.com and by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. The Bulls are encouraging fans to wear red to home playoff games.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Bulls game day</p>

<p class="News">Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at the United Center, 7 p.m.</p>

<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> TNT</p>

<p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WMVP 1000-AM</p>

<p class="News"><b>Update:</b> While the Bulls need to keep winning to wrap up a playoff spot, there is no telling which Boston team might show up. Last Friday, the Celtics (50-30) lost at home to Washington after falling behind 47-19. Then on Saturday, with Kevin Garnett taking a rest, they pulled off a physical win in Milwaukee. Boston has been hanging out in Chicago for two days and will likely use its regular lineup against the Bulls. After being blown out twice by the Celtics early in the season, the Bulls won on the road 96-83 on Jan. 14.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Next</b>: Wednesday vs. Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena, 7 p.m.</p>