Although he assured reporters that he’d be "good to go" against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, Jimmy Butler’s injured right toe held him out of practice on Tuesday and the guard could very well sit out in the first of Chicago’s next six road games.
"He didn’t do anything [at practice]," Tom Thibodeau said to CSN Chicago. "He’s going to have an MRI this afternoon."
Butler injured his toe midway through the third quarter in Chicago’s victory over Charlotte on Monday night. Initial X-rays were negative and he seemed pretty confident the issue was a minor one as he was able to return to the game. But the day after an injury is always the true barometer and Thibodeau said his status is very fluid.
"I don’t know," Thibodeau said if Butler would be able to play. "I want to see what they [the Bulls’ medical staff] have to say after the MRI, so we’ll know more [Tuesday] afternoon."
Derrick Rose knows what Butler brings to the floor every night -- especially on the defensive end -- and if his backcourt mate can’t go, the point guard knows that other guys will be ready to step up if their number is called.
"Jimmy, he’s someone we’re definitely going to miss, especially with his energy and defense," Rose said. "He’s been knocking down shots, 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 and that’s myself when I play the two, and we’ve just got to fill in for him."
