Feb. 08--NEW ORLEANS -- Before the Bulls' Saturday morning shootaround, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau sounded optimistic Mike Dunleavy would return from a right ankle injury, saying he is "moving great right now."
Hours later, Thibodeau sounded exasperated in declaring Dunleavy out for his 18th consecutive game.
Could the veteran forward return for Sunday's game at Orlando?
"Who knows?" the coach replied.
Dunleavy said at the shootaround that he was optimistic he could suit up against the Pelicans. But then after he tested it at the Smoothie King Center, he told his coach he "needs more time."
The Bulls entered Saturday night's game 7-10 without Dunleavy, 23-10 with him.
"He's a very good team defender and all-around player," Thibodeau said. "He is our best plus-minus guy (plus 3.0 per game). That tells you how valuable he is, but the reality is that he has been out a long time."
