Jan. 14--Mike Dunleavy shot jumpers after the Bulls' morning shootaround at the United Center, but will miss his seventh straight game Wednesday against the Wizards because of a sore right ankle.
Dunleavy jammed the ankle Jan. 1 and initially thought he'd return the next game. But the veteran forward said he still can't run without pain and has no target date to return.
After Tuesday's practice, coach Tom Thibodeau estimated Dunleavy could return in "four or five days."
"I'm just now past the point of hurting to walk," Dunleavy said. "I'm not yet to the point where I can run without pain. I'm starting to do a little more on the court. I have to work my way up to being able to run. That's the challenge."
The Bulls have split two meetings with the Wizards this season after getting eliminated by them from last season's playoffs. Nene and Marcin Gortat pose big challenges for the Bulls' frontline, which has lost the battle of point in the paint in six of seven games with one tie.
"They're skilled and strong. They're powerful," Thibodeau said of the Wizards' big men. "Then you have the speed of the backcourt and craftiness of (Paul) Pierce. It requires you to do more than one thing (defensively)."
