SAN FRANCISCO — Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler will miss his third straight game Wednesday night against the Warriors because of a right heel injury.
Butler, who originally injured the heel last Wednesday in a win over the Thunder, did not participate in Wednesday’s shootaround and acknowledged he still had pain in the heel.
“I don’t think it’s getting worse. It’s actually getting better,” Butler said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “There’s just certain movements, and that will make it worse. You don’t want that to happen.”
Guard Dwyane Wade did not participate in the shootaround because of an upper respiratory infection. He is a game-time decision against the Warriors.
Center Cris Felicio (right lower leg strain) is also questionable. He was expected to miss a week after injuring his leg in a loss to the Rockets last Friday, but he has started to do more in practice.
Coach Fred Hoiberg said that Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant will remain in the starting lineup alongside Robin Lopez and Taj Gibson. If Wade does not play, it is unclear who will start in his place.
Butler was noncommittal when asked if he would play Friday against the Phoenix Suns.
“Man, I’m hopeful for every day,” Butler said. “Hopefully when I go back to the hotel and eat some Cheerios, it’s the magical thing that my body doesn’t hurt. Whatever it takes. I just want to play. But yeah, I’m hopeful that day by day, hour after hour, I’ll return to the basketball court.”
Butler acknowledged he is thinking long term with the injury, but is hopeful he won’t do more damage to the heel when he does return.
“Obviously, but I want to go out there and be able to help,” he said. “I don’t want to be able to go out there and play like 10 minutes and be like, ‘I can’t move.’ I want to go out there and be the player I can be on both ends of the floor. My coaches, my teammates understand that. When I go out there I want to play. There ain’t gonna be no restrictions. Go out there and play however many minutes, whatever I’m asked to do on the basketball court.’
“I don’t want to be able to go out there and play like 10 minutes and be like, ‘I can’t move.’ I want to go out there and be the player I can be on both ends of the floor. My coaches, my teammates understand that. When I go out there I want to play. There ain’t gonna be no restrictions. Go out there and play however many minutes, whatever I’m asked to do on the basketball court.”
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