ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Derrick Rose, Shooting guard Ben Gordon, Small forward Kirk Hinrich, Power forward Tyrus Thomas, Center Joakim Noah. Bench -- Guard Lindsey Hunter, Guard Anthony Roberson, Forward Tim Thomas, Center Aaron Gray, Center Brad Miller.
PLAYER NOTES: --G Kirk Hinrich bumped heads with Indiana's Danny Granger a minute into the game and came back from the locker room with a bandage above his eye. He still played 39 minutes and produced 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
--G Derrick Rose did his best to carry the Bulls against the Pacers. He hit 12-of-21 shots for 24 points, in addition to 11 rebounds and six assists. As has been the case all season, he still can't count on many trips to the foul line and attempted just one free throw in Indiana.
--F Tim Thomas was pressed into extended duty because of the absence of John Salmons. Thomas played 291/2 minutes against the Pacers and fared well, collecting 11 points and five rebounds.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F John Salmons (groin strain) sat out the loss at Indiana but has three days to rest before the Bulls are back in action against New Jersey on Saturday.
--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.
