Jimmy Butler back for Bulls Thursday night vs. Lakers

Jimmy Butler will return to the Chicago Bulls lineup Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Butler missed Chicago's last game Tuesday due to illness.

Butler is the Bulls' leading scorer at 20.1 points per game.

Coach Tom Thibodeau avoided rumors swirling around his job security on Thursday, but agreed Butler should be an All-Star. Reserves are named Thursday night.

"I knew he'd be really good. But I didn't know he'd be this good," Thibodeau said, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.