Jimmy Butler did not practice Sunday and is questionable for Monday’s Chicago Bulls game at Sacramento.
Butler missed Friday’s loss in Houston with a right-heel contusion. He had an MRI exam Saturday, which essentially just confirmed the Bulls’ original diagnosis.
“It’s all how I feel when I wake up in the morning,” Butler told reporters after practice, according to espn.com. “Try to go on it a little bit more tomorrow and see how it holds up.”
The injury happened Wednesday when the Bulls beat Oklahoma City to start their six-game, ice-show road trip.
“Whenever Russ (Westbrook) threw my layup into (row) 18,” Butler said. “I stepped too hard on the initial step. I already knew that something had happened. I didn’t know it was going to feel like that.”
The Bulls are 0-3 this season when playing without their leading scorer but had a couple of close calls. They lost at Houston on Friday in overtime after failing to hold an 8-point lead during the final 2:30 of regulation. They lost by 2 at Washington without Butler or Dwyane Wade on Jan. 10.
“Heel pain, the only way to get it better is by staying off it,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters Sunday. “But hopefully it’s something where it gets better every day and we’ll get him back out there soon.”
The Bulls expect backup center Cristiano Felicio to miss about a week with what they’re calling a lower right-leg strain. He suffered the injury in the first half of the Houston game.
“After watching it on film, he tweaked it on the inside,” Hoiberg said. “He was having trouble putting pressure on it after the game. He’s a lot better, which is a big relief for us; hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”
The Kings are coming off a big victory over Golden State on Saturday. The Bulls will face the Warriors for the first time this season Wednesday.
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