Joakim Noah Injury: Sprained Ankle Will Keep Him Sidelined For Game 5 Vs. 76ers

Joakim Noah Injury: Bulls Center To Miss At Least Another Game, According To Report

The Chicago Bulls actually played pretty well on Sunday afternoon, but it was clear they were missing a couple of key ingredients in their eventual loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. It's not ideal, then, that injury issues will remain for this week's Game 5 back at the United Center.

Derrick Rose will miss the remainder of the NBA Playoffs due to a torn ACL and, though Joakim Noah's injury isn't quite as severe, he's also expected to miss Tuesday night's game according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.

Joakim Noah ditched his crutches Sunday in favor of a large walking boot to protect his severely sprained left ankle, which also will force him out of Tuesday's Game 5 at least.

Despite coach Tom Thibodeau calling Noah day-to-day and saying he is improving, Noah still can't put full weight on the ankle, which remains swollen.

It's good news that he's able to walk without crutches, of course, but Chicago definitely could have used him in its do-or-die Game 5.

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Joakim Noah Injury: Bulls' Center Has Ankle Sprain, Won't Play In Game 4 Vs. 76ers

As if things couldn't get worse for the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose injured himself in the very first game of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, now the team will be down another one of their key starters as they continue their opening-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Joakim Noah rolled his ankle during the Bulls' Game 3 loss to Philadelphia. KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported on Saturday that Bulls forward Luol Deng stated it is unlikely that Noah will be able to play in Sunday's Game 4.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that, although there is no fracture, Noah has a bad ankle sprain and is doubtful for the remainder of the series.

Obviously this is a huge blow to the Bulls, who were already depleted. Their playoff situation just got significantly less promising.

For all news and information regarding the Chicago Bulls, please visit Blog a Bull or head on over to SB Nation Chicago. For updates and perspective on the Philadelphia 76ers, check out Liberty Ballers or stop by SB Nation Philadelphia. For complete coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Now Are The Bulls Totally Screwed?

The Bulls may have lost Joakim Noah to a nasty ankle injury. Can we finally offer up a eulogy or is there still some life left?

Joakim Noah Injury: X-Rays Reportedly Negative, But Fracture Still Feared

X-rays on Joakim Noah's turned left ankle came out negative after the Chicago Bulls' Game 3 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. But two sources cited by Johnson indicate that the team still fears that the center may have suffered a fracture in the freak play.

Johnson reports that Noah left the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on crutches, wearing an air cast. The Bulls' Game 4 against the Sixers is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The Bulls, of course, are already without their All-NBA point guard Derrick Rose. Luol Deng is also struggling through a torn wrist ligament. Losing Noah or playing him at a severely damaged capacity would cross Chicago's top three players off the team's healthy list. The Bulls are down 2-1 in the series after Friday's loss.

Noah had a rare healthy season for Chicago, missing just two games. He missed a combined 54 games over the previous two seasons.

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Joakim Noah Injury: Bulls Center Sidelined After Rolling Ankle

They're already down a reigning MVP, but it may be getting worse for the Chicago Bulls.

Jo tried to gut it out, but clearly laboring now...really favoring the ankle, limping heavily, O at the table

— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) May 5, 2012

According to my handy Chicago Sports Vernuclar book, "Jo" is code for Joakim Noah, "O" stands reserve Omer Asik, and "limping heavily" means that Tom Thibodeau's frontcourt may have just got frighteningly thin until further notice.

After being taken to the locker room by the Bulls training staff, Noah has since returned to the Bulls bench, but he continues to favor his ankle, and does not look fit to return to the game. Without him, they lose a leading rebounder and defender, and make life just a bit more difficult for Carlos Boozer.

The Bulls did squash a one-point halftime deficit to take a 60-51 lead to close the third quarter, but the trepidation continues to build in the Windy City.

And just for good measure:

Update: He returned to the court, somehow. Really.

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