Bulls' Butler, Hinrich return to lineup; Deng to sit vs. Nets
While the Bulls will be without their leading scorer on Wednesday in New Jersey, the club will have a couple familiar faces return to the floor on Christmas Day, the team announced.
Butler & Hinrich will play, while Deng is out as Noah's Bulls visit Nets (11 am | WGN-TV/ESPN | ESPN 1000). #CHIvsBKN pic.twitter.com/8ww0NMM9mn
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 25, 2013
Jimmy Butler, who's averaging a career-high 11.1 points per game this season, was absent from his team's 100-84 win over the Cavaliers on Saturday due to a sprained ankle.
Kirk Hinrich, meanwhile, will take the floor on Wednesday after missing five straight games with a back injury. Though he's shooting just 34 percent from the floor this season, the 32-year-old is averaging 5.2 assists per game, trailing only D.J. Augustin for the team lead.
However, top scorer Luol Deng will miss the Christmas Day bout due to an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since Dec. 18.
The Bulls, who have dropped four of their last five contests, will look to notch a second successive victory on Wednesday for the first time since mid-November.