ATLANTA -- Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will not play Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. It is the fourth straight game the All-Star center has missed because of lingering ankle and knee injuries.

"He's doing more and more," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. "I think he's getting close. He's feeling a little bit better. But we're just going to take it day by day, let him continue to work. He's doing more on the floor now, running, jumping, stuff like that."

Thibodeau said the right ankle injury is of bigger concern to the Bulls right now. Noah initially sprained the ankle last week in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks and then sprained it again in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. He played Dec. 13 against the Golden State Warriors but has not played again since.

Thibodeau was non-committal when asked if Noah would be able to return Thursday night against the New York Knicks.

"The ankle right now is the [bigger issue]," Thibodeau said. "He's got to get that where he's comfortable enough to get out there. He's working hard and we just got to be patient."