Jimmy Butler close to returning for Chicago Bulls, still might miss game vs. Knicks
By Josh Hill
The Chicago Bulls are on the wrong side of win column through 19 games of their season and part of the reason for the woes has been a slew of injuries across the board to the team’s core group of players. With Derrick Rose out for the season, Luol Deng still banged up and Joakim Noah recently being added to the injury list, Chicago has been hurting all over their roster and that extends to starting guard Jimmy Butler who remains out with turf toe.
According to Bulls beat writer K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Tribune, Butler is close to returning but there’s no indication that he’ll be ready to return for tonight’s game against a Knicks team even worse than the Bulls.
“I can run, jump and I’m starting to change directions — like in a defensive push-off motion,” Butler said, via the Tribune. “But it’s just gradual steps for me.”
If Butler can’t go tonight against the Knicks, chances are he’ll likely return for the Bulls’ game Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks or this weekend’s home game against the Toronto Raptors. Chicago desperately needs to get healthy though if they don’t want to be dealing with these injuries long term, so don’t expect Butler to be rushed back if he’s not totally ready.