Rip Hamilton made his second straight start after missing most of the first half of the season with groin and thigh injuries. This was no game-time decision, either. Thibodeau gave his free-agent acquisition the green light to start in back-to-back games when he showed no ill affects after returning in a win over the Hornets on Tuesday night at the United Center.

Hamilton played 16-plus minutes against New Orleans and will continue to have his paying time carefully monitored.

"Because he's missed so much time we just want to make sure from a conditioning standpoint he can handle it and we'll continue to buildup as we go along," Thibodeau said.