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Bulls' Butler ahead of schedule, Gibson getting close

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

In a season defined by adversity, the Chicago Bulls received some good news for a change.

All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler is on the mend and appears certain to be back much quicker than the six weeks it was estimated he could miss when he suffered an elbow sprain.

Butler, who's missed five games, could be back before he hits the three-week mark, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. He also said power forward Taj Gibson, who hasn't played in two weeks, is getting closer to a return.

"I'm making progress but this one is tough, re-injuring the same (ankle)," Gibson said. "I gotta be smart because it's a lot more painful than (the) first one."

Both players traveled to Philadelphia, where the Bulls will open up a three-game road trip against the 76ers on Wednesday.

Chicago is mired in a three-game losing skid after winning its first two contests without Butler. The Bulls have fallen 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place in the Central Division.

Butler is averaging a team-leading 20.2 points, 1.7 steals and chipping in with a career-best 5.9 rebounds over a league-high 38.9 minutes.

Injured point guard Derrick Rose, meanwhile, remains optimistic he'll be able to return from knee surgery before the season is up.

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