Bulls' Rose game-time call; Butler questionable
PHILADELPHIA — Chicago Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler is questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, while point guard Derrick Rose is a game-time decision.
Butler did not go through Thursday’s shootaround because of a right ankle sprain. Rose did take part in the shootaround after missing time with left knee patellar tendinitis.
“We’ve got some guys that have some soreness based on what happened in the last game,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Jimmy twisted his ankle, hope to have him tonight. We sat him out of shootaround this morning. Derrick participated in most of it. He’s still got a little bit of soreness, so we’ll see how he is after warmups tonight. Jo’s [Joakim Noah] starting to feel better — he’s getting his legs, he’s had some soreness once he got back into the lineup but he’s good to go.”
Pau Gasol, who is dealing with a strained right shoulder and sore Achilles tendons, did not travel with the Bulls to Philadelphia. Hoiberg is hopeful he will be able to play on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Noah, who continues to deal with some soreness in his left shoulder after missing almost a month because of a slight tear in the joint, will start in Gasol’s place on Thursday night.
“My mindset doesn’t change,” Noah said. “I just want to go out there, we’ve lost a couple in a row now, just trying to get back on the winning page.”
Doug McDermott, who has a right ankle sprain, went through shootaround and will play.
Rose said he would warm up before the game and see how he is feeling. He said he did not have to get an MRI on Wednesday after leaving Tuesday’s game late in the fourth quarter in a loss to Milwaukee. He acknowledged that he still has a little pain and soreness in his knee but only when he pushes off.
“It felt better but we’ll see how it is before I get back over here,” Rose said. “Still didn’t have the explosiveness that I would want, but it’s getting better every day, so that’s the good thing about it. The first day was the only day that it felt that way, so [I’m] not worried about it.”
Rose said Gasol’s absence and Butler’s uncertain status wouldn’t affect his decision.
“I believe in my teammates,” Rose said. “If I’m not ready to play or if I know that I’m not able to go, I’m just not going to go.”
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