Joakim Noah posted 15 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and six blocks in the Chicago Bulls' win over the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Noah is still regaining 100 percent form physically and is confident he will reach that point this season.

"There is no question in my mind — 100 percent — that I can get to where I want to be physically this season," Noah said. "I have to be positive. I know how far I've come just in the last month."

Noah acknowledged the seriousness of the May 2014 knee surgery, which the Bulls originally termed minor and needing an eight- to 12-week rehabilitation period. Both Noah and the Bulls acknowledged on the eve of training camp that a longer recovery period prohibited Noah from playing full court all offseason.

And Noah has remained on minutes restrictions all season.

"It was more than a scope," Noah said. "That's what it was supposed to be. So it definitely took longer than we expected. But it's nothing that I can't recover from and be back 100 percent and be right."

Derrick Rose had 21 points and four rebounds in the Chicago Bulls' 109-102 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday.

"My confidence is through the roof, man," Rose said. "I don't need no more confidence, I just need to play. I know how good I am and I know how good I'm going to be. It's just that I just need to be out there playing."

Rose only played 10 minutes in the Bulls' loss on Tuesday to the Denver Nuggets.

The difference for Rose between Tuesday's game and Friday's was simple in Tom Thibodeau's eyes.

"He played," Thibodeau said.

"The thing for Derrick is he's got to keep building," Thibodeau said. "Honestly, I looked at the 10 minutes [in Denver] as a positive. Back-to-back [games], he's out there. I looked at the last two days, practicing and practicing hard, so he plays better. That's how he's going to shake the rust off. So I just want him to keep building. That's what I want him to do. He's got to be out there in order to do that."

Derrick Rose was removed at halftime of the Chicago Bulls' game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday because of left hamstring tightness.

"Just trying to be smart, back-to-back (games), fatigue, and didn't want to take any steps back," said Rose, who scored two points. "So, take these couple of days off, head to Boston."

Rose has missed four games with the hamstring injury this season.

Derrick Rose had 18 points, five assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes in the Chicago Bulls' 97-95 win at the Utah Jazz.

Tom Thibodeau was asked after the game if Rose looked fatigued in the second half.

"Oh I don't know. Jesus. He's got to get out there and play," Thibodeau said. "I thought he did a lot of good things. You could see he's not real comfortable with the ball yet, but that will come. When Derrick strings some games together, he's going to take off. He's got to go. That's the bottom line. He's got to go."

Rose has tried to be cautious about his future and has missed eight games overall after missing four earlier in the season because of sprained ankles.

"It's been time," Rose said. "To me, it's been time. Every injury is a setback a little bit, but as far as emotions and everything, how hard I worked, it's been consistent with how I'm feeling, being positive. And it's been a minute since I've played. This is the first one and now it's behind me and now we're on to Denver."

Jimmy Butler and the Chicago Bulls were not able to agree to a contract extension before the Oct. 31 deadline, and this season, the swingman has averaged 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals a game.

Butler said he does not hold resentment with the Bulls for the lack of a new deal.

"Nah, nah," Butler said. "I love the city of Chicago. I think everybody knows that. I just feel like I've just got to help win games, man. I want a championship. The money has never been an issue because I'm from Tomball. The money I make now is more than nothing.

"I just wanted to prove to my teammates, to my coaches, to the city, that I'm here to stay."

Derrick Rose will sit out again on Thursday at the Sacramento Kings with a hamstring injury.

The Chicago Bulls are being conservative with injuries this season, and Rose's absence likely will extend to next week.

"When one guy is out, the next guy step in and get the job done," Tom Thibodeau said. "That’s the way it’s been. My first year here, Joakim (Noah) missed three months. So it’s just whoever is out, the next guy get in there and get it done."

Derrick Rose injured his left hamstring during the final minutes of the Chicago Bulls' 100-93 win over the Toronto Raptors.

"I guess it's cramps in my hamstrings," Rose said. "But I think it's minor, and they decided to pull me out."

Tom Thibodeau said after the game that Rose told him he was fine and that he thought he just tweaked the hamstring.

Thibodeau thought an MRI on the hamstring was likely for Friday, but Rose was hopeful he wouldn't have to have one. 

Rose could return to practice on Friday.

Rose isn't quite sure how it happened.

"I don't know, man," Rose said. "Just missing two years, now you're just going to fall for no reason I guess, man. Just trying to work every day, put in consistent work every day. And don't lose any confidence with these setbacks."

Joakim Noah is frustrated with the media's portrayl of Rose's injury issues.

"Every time something happens to [Rose], people act like it's the end of the world, and that's f---ing so lame to me," Noah said at one point.

Derrick Rose returned from his ankle sprain injuries on Monday night and revealed Tuesday that he is already thinking about his future beyond basketball.

"I know a lot of people get mad when they see me sit out or whatever, but I think a lot of people don't understand that when I sit out it's not because of this year," Rose said. "I'm thinking about long term. I'm thinking about after I'm done with basketball having graduations to go to, having meetings to go to.

"I don't want to be in my meetings all sore or be at my son's graduation all sore just because of something I did in the past. (I'm) just learning and being smart."

Rose has underwent two knee surgeries since 2012.

Derrick Rose will sit out the Chicago Bulls' game at the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night due to sprains in both his left and right ankles.

It will be Rose's third missed game out of six this season.

Rose scored 13 points in the Bulls' win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Free agent Ray Allen is visiting Chicago this week and has been spotted on several social media platforms, but his agent Jim Tanner told RealGM on Thursday: “Nothing to do with the Bulls.”

Allen remains a free agent deciding on his NBA future after playing for the Miami Heat over the past two seasons of his 18-year career.

Allen, who has built a reputation on staying in elevated shape in the offseason, averaged 9.6 points and two rebounds for Miami last season.