Bulls: Jimmy Butler diagnosed with left knee strain

Share

Jimmy Butler has been diagnosed with a left knee strain after undergoing an MRI, the Bulls announced Saturday.

No timetable has been set for his return and will be determined upon his return to Chicago and his response to treatment.

Butler suffered the injury late in the second quarter of the Bulls' loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Butler drove to the basket and planted awkwardly on his left leg. He went tumbling to the ground and grabbed his left leg. Butler stayed in the game only to attempt two free throws before exiting on a wheelchair.

Fred Hoiberg said after the game that trainers told him Butler's knee was intact and his ligaments were stable, but the diagnosis still comes as a sigh of relief for an already-banged up Bulls team already down Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic.

In his fifth NBA season Butler, who was named an All-Star last week for the second time, is averaging a career-best 22.4 points per game and leads the NBA at 37.9 minutes per game.

Contact Us