Bulls All-Star Butler (knee) sidelined vs. Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Chicago Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler was out of the lineup Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings because of left knee tendinitis.
“Jimmy’s knee flared up on him,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game. “The one he got bumped the other night. Jimmy’s going to sit tonight.”
Hoiberg said the injury occurred late in Monday night’s loss to the Utah Jazz when Butler went knee to knee with a Jazz player.
Reserve Tony Snell will start in Butler’s place.
“One guy isn’t going to replace what Jimmy gives us out there, so we’ll hopefully get out there and get the ball moving and get out and play with some pace, but yeah, you’re obviously not going to be able to replace Jimmy with everything he does for you on the floor defensively,” Hoiberg said. “He’s a guy that we go to obviously a lot late in the game. Guys got to step up and hopefully play well.”
Hoiberg said he is hopeful that Butler’s injury isn’t long term and sounded confident Butler will play Friday against the Denver Nuggets. No MRI has been scheduled.
Wednesday’s game marks the first missed game of the season for Butler. He had been open about the fact that he wanted to play in all 82 regular-season games after making a bet with his trainer before the season.
In other injury-related news, veteran Mike Dunleavy rejoined the Bulls before the game after a two-day practice stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the D-League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors. Dunleavy has missed the entire season after offseason back surgery but is hopeful to make his season debut at some point this weekend.
“It was a productive trip,” Dunleavy said. “Got what I needed to get out of it.”
Dunleavy remains unclear on when he will return to the floor because he still has to work out how many minutes he will be able to play once he does return.
“I’m pretty close,” Dunleavy said. “Just a matter of seeing how I’m feeling the next couple days and probably start having conversations with the medical staff in terms of strategy and minutes and how we’re going to structure this thing. Obviously, I’m really close and hope to be back soon.”
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