Joakim Noah has said that seeing Mike Dunleavy return from a cut "inspired" the Chicago Bulls during their win over the Houston Rockets.

The small forward had to leave the game in the second quarter after being hit above the right eye by a trailing elbow, but was able to return after the break, having received 10 stitches.

The center told reporters: "I think it inspired the team. He had a huge knot on his head looking like [former world heavyweight champion Evander] Holyfield, the white version, coming out there putting on a new jersey, gutting it out in the second half shows, it was good for Duke's street credibility.

"It was very impressive. It shows a lot about the character of this team. I've never seen nothing like that, to get rocked like he got rocked."

Dunleavy was the team's top scorer during the 111-87 win.