Chicago Bulls guards Kirk Hinrich and Jimmy Butler are expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. While Hinrich and Butler appear ready to play, Luol Deng is unlikely to suit up on Christmas, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Both Hinrich and Butler were full participants at practice on Monday. Hinrich, who's struggled with a back injury, missed five games; Butler, who sprained his right ankle, missed one game.
The return of Hinrich and Butler will bolster the Bulls' depth at guard. D.J. Augustin, acquired on Dec. 13, has stepped up in the interim as a stopgap and is coming off a double-double (18 points, 10 assists) in Saturday's 100-84 win over Cleveland.
Although Chicago gets added depth in the backcourt, the team will still be without Deng, who's missed two games with a sore Achilles tendon. Deng didn't participate at practice on Monday and appears unlikely to play on Wednesday.
Chicago's win on Saturday snapped a four-game losing streak, pushing the Bulls to three wins in their last 10 games. While healthy bodies are a plus for the injury-riddled Bulls, coach Tom Thibodeau admitted his focus is on the players available now.
"I think we have some guys who are playing really well right now," Thibodeau said, via The Tribune. "I'm focused on the guys we have. I like the progress they're making.
"I think Jo (Noah) is playing at a very high level. I think Taj (Gibson) has played great all year. DJ (Augustin) has been terrific. I thought Tony (Snell), that was his best game as a pro. I want to see him build on that, build some consistency."
