Skip to content

Bulls' Butler out with thumb injury once again Friday

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The Chicago Bulls won't have their best perimeter defender available when they try to stop LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Jimmy Butler is out once again due to a sprained left thumb, an injury that remains a day-to-day matter. Kirk Hinrich started at shooting guard in his stead on Wednesday, an arrangement that should hold on Friday.

It's a pretty major loss for the Bulls, leaving them with precious few wings capable of checking James. That task may now fall to Tony Snell and Taj Gibson, as Hinrich is far too small and Mike Dunleavy too ineffective.

It could be an awkward night off for Butler, who walked away from the team's final offer ahead of Friday's midnight deadline for rookie contract extensions to be signed.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox