Noah knows Bulls must ‘stay hungry’

One explanation for the Bulls’ brilliant first half Saturday was they built the 27-point lead against the Utah Jazz to make sure they’d be allowed to go out and watch the halftime ceremony honoring the 1991 championship team.

Players from the Bulls and Jazz were on the benches to hear Michael Jordan tell an appreciative crowd at the United Center more championships are on the way. Jordan even suggested Derrick Rose can lead the franchise to another six titles.

“Obviously when you have a player like Michael giving us love like that, it feels great,” center Joakim Noah said. “But at the same time, after he said that, we didn’t have a great second half.”

Utah scored 59 points in the second half but never got closer than 13.

“We’ve still got to go out there and play the games and stay hungry, stay driven and understand everything that’s happened so far has been because of hard work,” Noah added.

Rose may have been eager to join the reunion party held upstairs at the United Center. He left the locker room before reporters came in, so he didn’t share his thoughts on Jordan’s comment. Teammate Kyle Korver was realistic.

“We’re trying for one,” he said with a laugh. “My contract’s not for six years. So if I’m not here, I don’t want the Bulls to win six championships.”

Boozer gets better:

Before Saturday’s game, Carlos Boozer walked through the locker room in bare feet. His sprained left ankle remained swollen, but Boozer had no trouble putting weight on it. He figures to be back on the court next week.

Boozer was asked if he felt any animosity toward Charlotte center Kwame Brown, who caused the injury with a flagrant foul.

“Not at all. It’s a basketball play,” Boozer said. “I don’t worry about it. I’ve been in the same situation he was in.”

After the foul, Boozer landed awkwardly and his left leg collapsed beneath him.

“I’ve got to work on my landings,” Boozer joked. “I couldn’t feel it (at first). I was obviously very worried. After that moment, all the pain went to my foot. I knew it was somewhere in my foot, I just didn’t know where.

Bull horns:

C.J. Watson dished out a season-high 8 assists Saturday, to go with 16 points. ... Utah is now 3-10 since Tyrone Corbin took over as head coach from Jerry Sloan. ... Jazz forward Paul Millsap missed the game with a knee injury.