The head of Miami's Udonis Haslem hit Wallace's left knee late in last Saturday's win. The centre and rebounding force missed the opener to Chicago's seven-game trip Wednesday at the Los Angeles Clippers. Then at the Bulls' shootaround Friday morning, he told trainer Fred Tedeschi and coach Scott Skiles that he was ``uncomfortable'' moving laterally.

But after riding an exercise bike during the day, Wallace told Skiles, ``I'm ready.''

``I like to be prepared,'' Wallace said, sliding compression wraps over both knees in the locker room about 75 minutes before tipoff.

Skiles said there is concern for now over Wallace being able to play in back-to-back games, but Chicago doesn't have those until Thursday and Friday at Sacramento and Golden State. The Bulls' next game is Sunday at Utah.

``He said he's going to communicate with me if he's not feeling well. He's lying,'' Skiles joked.

Wallace, who signed with the Bulls as a free agent in July, is averaging 6.5 points and 10.1 rebounds this season.