Bulls' Noah diagnosed with shoulder sprain, out at least 2 weeks
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls will be without center Joakim Noah for at least two weeks after an MRI revealed a sprain of his left shoulder, the team announced Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Noah sustained the injury during Monday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets. He got tangled up with Nets center Andrea Bargnani and immediately headed to the locker room while under visible duress.
X-rays were negative, but Tuesday's MRI revealed the severity of Noah's injury. He'll be re-evaluated after two weeks, but his return to full health figures to be a while longer.
Related: Noah questions Bulls' identity as team continues to falter
The two-time All-Star has seen his game depreciate significantly since his Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2013-14. Noah's been relegated to the bench this season and is averaging just 4.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 22.3 minutes per game this season while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor.
Noah's quality, however, remains on the defensive end where he's played a pivotal role in the Bulls' third-ranked defense.
His absence puts further strain on Hoiberg in his continued efforts to sort out his frontcourt rotation. Pau Gasol figures to log even more minutes at center, while minutes might open up for promising rookie Bobby Portis, or sophomore Doug McDermott at power forward.
The Bulls have lost three straight and boast the sixth-worst point differential in the East despite a robust record of 15-11.