Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah received a boost on Monday as an MRI scan on his sprained ankle came back clean, according to coach Tom Thibodeau.
Noah missed Monday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers due to the injury, but Thibodeau hopes that the All-Star can return soon.
"It's clean, so it's good," Thibodeau told reporters.
"He's making progress, so we'll see where he is when we get back."
Noah initially sprained his ankle at the start of December and then tweaked it again the following night, which forced him to miss four games as he is also struggling with a knee strain.
The Bulls star has now missed the last three games and he continues to get treatment on the ankle as while the club slump, having lost six of their last eight games.