Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is missing his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle.

Noah has had trouble with the ankle for more than a month. He missed four games in December, came back and tweaked the injury.

The Bulls are looking to regain their edge on the court, but for the fourth straight game they'll have to do so without their emotional leader.

Joakim Noah, who sprained his right ankle on Jan. 14 against the Wizards, did not played last night as the Bulls square off against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

Tom Thibodeau said Noah went through about half of Thursday morning's shootaround, more than he did three days ago in Cleveland. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was seen getting in his usual additional work following the shootaround on the United Center floor.