The Chicago Bulls lost on Sunday afternoon to the Los Angeles Clippers at the United Center, but the loss is the least of their worries as it was revealed Monday that Jimmy Butler will miss three-to-six weeks with an elbow injury suffered in the game.
The injury is a "Grade 2/3 ulnar ligament sprain and small bone impaction," according to a statement released by the Bulls, and although the timetable suggests that it’s gloom and doom time for the team, it’s actually a blessing in disguise. The team also announced that the injury would not require surgery, meaning that Butler can return to the court sooner.
Butler was injured during the third quarter of the game when he collided with Clippers forward DeAndre Jordan on a pick near the three-point arc. Butler’s arm was bent awkwardly on the play, and he immediately came out of the game and did not return.
With Derrick Rose still out of the lineup, the Bulls are now seriously hurting on offense with Butler out. Joakim Noah has been playing better in recent games, but players like Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich will have to step up to help fill the void.
