Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler to undergo an MRI

During the Chicago Bulls’ 86-81 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night, Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler injured his right toe.

The injury kept him out of practice Tuesday afternoon.

“He didn’t do anything,” Bulls’ head coach Tom Thibodeau told Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago. “He’s going to have an MRI this afternoon.”

Butler, the last pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft (30th overall), is beginning to establish himself as a very good defender and a reliable option on offense. He’s averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in nine games.

Butler hopes to be back soon, but if he isn’t, all-star point guard Derrick Rose would consider it a huge loss.

“Jimmy is someone we’re definitely going to miss, especially with his energy and defense, and he’s been knocking down shots,” Rose said. “But the way our team is, if one guy goes down, the other guy’s got to step up and do a great job. And that’s Mike Dunleavy, Kirk [Hinrich], myself when I play the 2, and we just got to fill in for him.”

The Bulls will get back to work Thursday when they start a west coast road trip in Denver against the Nuggets.