MINNEAPOLIS — Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade didn’t play in Sunday’s 117-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a right wrist injury. Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler also missed the game because of ongoing pain in his right heel.
Wade, who fell on both wrists during the second half of Friday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, had X-rays on Sunday, which came back negative.
“It’s hurting,” Wade said before Sunday’s game. “I fell on both of them. It’s funny because the left one was hurting and then after the game the right one is the one who took over.”
Wade’s right wrist was swollen before Sunday’s game, and he acknowledged he was in some pain.
“It ain’t right. I can’t bend it either way,” Wade said. “If I feel like I need an MRI when I get back to the city, then I’ll do that, moreso the hand than the wrist, I think.”
Wade is hopeful that he will be back on the floor before the All-Star break. “I’m just focusing in on the now,” Wade said. “Obviously, I’ve played through a lot of things, so I can play through this if it’s manageable, but not today. Can’t even bend it. So we’ll see.”
As for Butler, it remains unclear when he will be able to return. He scored 20 points in Friday’s loss after missing the last three games, but acknowledged he still had pain in the heel.
Butler said after Sunday’s game that his heel was feeling better.
“Still day by day,” Butler said. “It feels a lot better today, though. Keep getting this treatment, resting it, do what I can on it until this next game rolls around.”
Butler does not believe he made a mistake by playing in Friday’s loss, despite the heel still giving him problems.
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Butler said. “I love the game. I love fighting with these guys. I’ll take that risk.”
Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game that Butler had some “pretty significant soreness” in his heel.
“We’ll rest him and hopefully have a good report tomorrow, get him to work out a little bit and see how he’s doing for the Toronto game,” Hoiberg said.
Hoiberg said the decision about whether Butler should sit through the All-Star break has not been broached. Butler is scheduled to start for the Eastern Conference All-Star team during next weekend’s game in New Orleans.
The Bulls (26-29) were also without Niko Mirotic (back spasms) and Paul Zipser (food poisoning and ankle tendinitis) against the Timberwolves. Hoiberg started the game with Jerian Grant, Michael Carter-Williams, Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez.
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