ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Derrick Rose, Shooting guard Ben Gordon, Small forward John Salmons, Power forward Tyrus Thomas, Center Joakim Noah. Bench -- Guard Kirk Hinrich, Guard Lindsey Hunter, Guard Anthony Roberson, Forward Tim Thomas, Forward Linton Johnson, Center Aaron Gray, Center Brad Miller.
PLAYER NOTES: --G Ben Gordon's 37 points against Toronto on Sunday tied for his second-highest total of the season, behind his 43 points in a double-overtime loss at Miami on March 9. Gordon hit 15-of-26 shots against the Raptors, including a 21-footer at the buzzer that tied the game at the end of regulation.
--F John Salmons had a rare quiet game against the Raptors Sunday. He finished with 10 points in 31 minutes and did not play during most of the fourth quarter or overtime as the Bulls used a three-guard lineup. One reason given for Salmons' limited minutes was a groin strain suffered a day earlier against Indiana.
--C Joakim Noah made the most of his minutes Sunday at Toronto, hitting 8-of-10 shots for 16 points in just 21 minutes. This was his highest point total since he had 16 on Feb. 4 at New Orleans.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Luol Deng (right tibia contusion) has been out since Feb. 28 and will sit for a few weeks to see if his injury will improve. A variety of doctors agreed that Deng has a tiny break in tibia that could be the early stages of a stress fracture. He's been running on the weightless treadmill, but still feeling some pain.
--C Jerome James (torn Achilles' tendon) was already out for the season when he joined the Bulls in a trade from New York on Feb. 19. Considering James played in four games the past two seasons for the Knicks, the Bulls clearly are not expecting many contributions.
