Joakim Noah injury: Bulls likely without big man against Pacers

Joakim Noah continues to battle plantar fasciaitis and will likely miss the Chicago Bulls' game against the Indiana Pacers Monday, he told reporters. While Noah is listed as a gametime decision, according to ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell, the big man said he was most likely to return Thursday against the Nuggets.

Fellow big man Carlos Boozer told the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson that he was more optimistic than Noah to play. Boozer has been dealing with a hamstring injury.

Noah has missed the last two games -- against the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets -- battling plantar fasciaitis. Chicago lost to the Nets, 93-89, on Friday but won at Atlanta, 93-76, on Saturday. This is the the second time in Noah's career that he's dealt with the issue, as he battled plantar fasciaitis in the 2009-10 season.

The injury news means the Bulls could be shorthanded against the Pacers, who themselves are coming off a big victory against the Miami Heat. Indiana is a game behind in the Eastern Conference standings and sits in fifth place, two spots behind the Bulls.