Bulls' Gibson has returned to practice

If any team knows how to weather an injury storm, it's the Chicago Bulls, who have persevered admirably despite having their best-laid plans picked apart by the cruel hand of fate for three seasons running.

Will this be the year they end up getting healthy at the right time? Derrick Rose insists he'll be back before the season is out, Jimmy Butler is progressing well ahead of schedule, and, according to head coach Tom Thibodeau, Taj Gibson has returned to practice.

Gibson, who sat out his ninth consecutive game Sunday, is recovering from a slow-healing left ankle sprain - the latest in a long line of them he's suffered in his career.

The runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year a season ago, it's been a relative down year for Gibson, who's averaging 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 49 games, mostly as a reserve.

Butler hasn't yet started practicing again, but has been going through intensive shooting drills, and is getting close.

Thanks largely to their smattering of injuries, the Bulls are just 6-7 since the All-Star break, and have fallen two games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place in the Central Division.