Hawks lead Bulls early

By K.C. Johnson

ATLANTA -- The first quarter Friday night at Philips Arena featured a bit of everything -- except Joakim Noah.

With their emotional leader back in Chicago resting plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the Bulls fell behind the Hawks 27-20.

The Bulls started Luol Deng on Joe Johnson, who leads the Hawks with eight points. Deng's six points leads the Bulls, who also got a spectacular one-handed alley-oop dunk from Derrick Rose on a John Salmons feed.

Tyrus Thomas, whose minutes will increase in Noah's absence, tallied two points and four rebounds. He also goaltended two shots, attempted a wild running lefty hook shot in the lane and threw a cross-court pass that Maurice Evans picked off and dunked.