Joakim Noah ‘Most Likely Out’ for Game 5

Down 3-1 against the Philadelphia Sixers, the Chicago Bulls will attempt to extend their star-crossed season tonight, but they’ll likely have to take the court without Joakim Noah. From the Chicago Tribune: “Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were at the Berto Center on Monday. While the swelling in Noah’s severely sprained left ankle has subsided some, he remains in a walking boot and is out for Game 5 on Tuesday. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau continued his cat-and-mouse game regarding injuries, merely conceding Noah is ‘most likely out.’ […] As for Rose, the clock on his recovery from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament starts after he undergoes surgery, which hasn’t been scheduled. Given that Rose typically trains during the offseason in Santa Monica, Calif., some of his recovery likely will take place there. ‘He’s coming along well, doing a lot of rehab, feels pretty good,’ Thibodeau said. ‘That’s encouraging.’ Rose will miss a significant portion of the 2012-13 season. As for Luol Deng, the Bulls’ other injured core player, who was grimacing after falling on his injured left wrist in Game 4, Thibodeau said: ‘He’s been dealing with this all season. It’s not anything new. Some days are better than others. He just has to keep plugging away.'”