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Bulls' Gibson hopes to return Friday

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson was a full participant in practice Thursday and is hoping to return to the team this weekend after missing the last 10 games with an ankle sprain. 

Gibson will determine his status for Friday's contest versus the Toronto Raptors after going through shootaround, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. If he is unable to go Friday, the Bulls play again Saturday and then Monday. 

Injured teammate Jimmy Butler also went through all of practice and is getting closer to returning from the elbow sprain that's limited him to one game this month. The first-time All-Star, who has missed just over two weeks, was given a three-to-six-week timeline for his recovery. 

Derrick Rose, meanwhile, participated in the non-contact portions of Thursday's practice, but remains out indefinitely. The team has said it expects to have Rose back before the season is up. 

"It's going to be scary when everyone gets back and is at full health," Gibson said of his Bulls, who sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place in the Central Division. 

The injury-riddled Bulls have stumbled recently, losing five of their last seven games, but could head into the playoffs with a fully healthy roster, assuming Gibson and Butler don't experience any setbacks and Rose is in fact cleared to return. 

Gibson, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year a season ago, is averaging 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game. 

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