Chalk it up to adrenaline.
Joakim Noah was able to return to Monday's game against the Utah Jazz after getting poked in the eye, he may be sidelined because of it one day later. Noah has been added to the Bulls' injury report and is considered questionable for Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
The team may also be without Taj Gibson (ankle) and Kirk Hinrich (ribs), who both sat Monday. Derrick Rose (hamstring) played Monday, but his status is perpetually uncertain. Losing Noah would leave the Bulls painfully thin, even considering their ample depth.
Gibson drew the start when Noah missed a pair of games earlier in the year, but if both are out, one of Nikola Mirotic or Nazr Mohammed may end up starting alongside Pau Gasol.
In 12 games this season, Noah's numbers have been muted, but for the right reasons: the Bulls are deeper and playing well, which has allowed head coach Tom Thibodeau to limit Noah to 31.1 minutes a night, his lowest since 2011-12. As a result, the Florida product is averaging just 7.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 blocks, all down some from 2013-14.
Curiously, and perhaps owing to small samples less than a month into the season, the Bulls have been slightly better with Noah on the bench than with him on the floor. Historically, the team's been far better with him, and based on observation, that remains the case, even if the early numbers don't agree.
