Taj Gibson returning from 2-game absence Monday

It seems as if the Chicago Bulls are up for their Eastern Conference showdown with the Toronto Raptors.

Almost everybody on the mend will be back in the fold Monday, with Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson returning from two-game absences. Gibson had missed the past two outings due to a sprained right ankle, though it was largely expected he'd be able to return Monday.

Gibson had missed six games earlier in the season due to a sprained left ankle, one he's sprained three times in the last eight months. The Bulls are surely hoping the right one doesn't become its own lingering issue.

In the five games between sprains, Gibson had been excellent, averaging 13 points and 10.6 rebounds in 34.3 minutes, a shade above his respective season averages of 12.6, 7.2 and 30.6. The Bulls have been 2.4 points per-100 possessions better with him than without him, which speaks to his immense impact considering just how good the Bulls' starting frontcourt is ahead of him.