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Knicks-Bulls Preview

Feb 15, 2010 - 9:08 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

New York (19-32) at Chicago (25-26), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Bulls were hoping to come out of the All-Star break with two of their top players back on the court. It's uncertain if either will return immediately.

The Bulls open a home-and-home series with the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at the United Center with the status of All-Star Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in question.

Just 2 1/2 minutes into Chicago's final game before the break, Rose took a hard foul from Orlando's Dwight Howard and sat out the rest of Wednesday's 107-87 loss. Going up for a layup, Rose fell several feet to the floor after being hit by Howard, landing awkwardly on his lower back. X-rays showed no structural damage on his bruised hip.

Without Rose and Noah, who was already out, the Bulls (25-26) stood little chance against the formidable Magic, falling behind by as many as 29 points en route to their fourth defeat in six games. Playing an extensive period of time without these young stars isn't an ideal situation for a Chicago team vying for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Rose, who averages a team-best 19.6 points, decided not to defend his Skills Challenge title Saturday but wasn't about to miss Sunday's All-Star game. He finished with eight points and four assists in 15 minutes to help the East defeat the West 141-139.

The decision to play in that game could prove to be costly, though, as Rose felt some unexpected tightness.

"It was sore a little bit, but I continued to fight through," Rose told the Bulls' official Web site. "(It was) more (sore) than I thought I'd be, but I continued to play through it."

While Chicago hopes its star point guard will be feeling better after a day off, its starting center is also trying to return from injury.

The Bulls shut down Noah for the final four games before the break because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but the team isn't sure if he's ready to take the court again.

Noah has been a pleasant surprise for the Bulls, averaging 11.2 points and ranking third in the league with 12.0 rebounds per game. The New York native had 10 points and matched a career high with 21 boards in Chicago's last game against the Knicks, an 88-81 loss at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 22.

Rose had 26 points in that game, and finished with 18 points and six assists in the Bulls' 98-89 home win over New York on Dec. 17. The Knicks have lost three straight and 15 of 17 in Chicago.

New York's final game before the break was a 118-114 overtime loss to Sacramento last Tuesday, its sixth defeat in seven games.

Despite owning one of the league's worst records, the Knicks (19-32) were well-represented during All-Star weekend. Nate Robinson became the NBA's first three-time slam dunk champion Saturday, and center David Lee, a late addition to the East All-Star team, had four points and two rebounds Sunday.

Lee averaged 23.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in the final four games before the break, and he's totaled 31 points and 29 boards in two games against the Bulls this season.

These teams play again Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.