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Bulls' Pau Gasol returns in Game 6 vs. Cavaliers

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Pau Gasol will be out to prove his mettle in Thursday's Game 6, as he'll be back in action, trying to help his Chicago Bulls stave off elimination against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to head coach Tom Thibodeau.

"Pau's good," Thibodeau said Thursday. "He's fine."

Maybe Gasol's pride kicked in when he took a cheap shot from a Cavaliers beat writer on Wednesday.

Gasol sat out Games 4 and 5 of the Bulls' second-round series against Cleveland with a hamstring strain, while Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving played through a foot strain and knee tendinitis.

"He has made it known that he's not missing this moment for the world," Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote of Irving after Game 5. "He's committed to the organization and his teammates.

"He's not Pau Gasol."

Gasol said on Wednesday he'd made good progress, and was experiencing "no residual pain."

The Bulls lost both games without Gasol, as their 2-1 series lead turned into a 3-2 deficit. While rookie Nikola Mirotic appeared a capable fill-in who could keep the floor spaced offensively from the four, Mirotic struggled badly in Game 5, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and registering a game-worst minus-23 rating in just 18 minutes of floor time.

It's unclear how or if Gasol's minutes will be restricted in his return, but the Bulls are understandably excited to get him back - even if he's not quite at 100 percent.

"Pau doesn't move around out there like a gazelle," said teammate Mike Dunleavy. "Him at not 100 percent is OK with us."

Gasol is averaging 15.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the postseason.

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