Though Joakim Noah’s return from a badly sprained left ankle isn’t imminent, the Bulls center expressed optimism following Tuesday’s Game 5 victory in Chicago that he could be ready in time for Game 6 Thursday in Philadelphia.

“I’m feeling better,” Noah told Chuck Swirsky on BullsTV. “Just trying to get out there for the next game. I feel like we played really hard tonight. It was a great win. Guys are giving everything they’ve got. Let’s bring it back to Chicago for Game 7.”

“It’s hard,” Noah told BullsTV of missing back-to-back postseason games. “This is what we live for is to play in games like this. So not to be out there with your teammates is hard. But we won and we live to fight another day. It’s going to be a big Game 6 and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to play.”

When asked if he was optimistic about that happening, Noah replied, “Yeah.”

“I just want to be out there with my guys,” Noah added.

via Adam Fluck of Bulls.com