Feb. 10--Derrick Rose is scheduled to return Wednesday night against the Hawks after missing last game with general soreness.
And the Bulls could use some positive momentum heading into the All-Star break that starts Thursday after losing 12 of 17.
It won't come from the injury report, which is dire beyond Rose's scheduled return. Coach Fred Hoiberg said Nikola Mirotic lost 15 pounds due to complications from his appendectomy and is "still in a lot of pain" despite plans to have stitches removed Wednesday from his surgery for a hematoma removal.
The Bulls also are now without Jimmy Butler, their leading scorer and best defender, for three to four weeks with a strained left knee.
"We're not in an easy situation," Pau Gasol said. "But our fight and our resilience has to come out and our pride has to come out."
Gasol said he canceled plans for a "very nice trip" after getting added to this weekend's All-Star game as Butler's injury replacement by Commissioner Adam Silver. Gasol missed by 360 votes to being voted a starter by fans and said he's happy to play in former teammate Kobe Bryant's last All-Star game.
"That was one of the things that I guess was disappointing for me not to make it directly, because I wanted to be in his last All-Star game," Gasol said. "What Kobe means to me as a teammate and a friend, it's a lot. So I wanted to be there. Unfortunately it has to be because of Jimmy's injury, but at the same time, so now I'm going to be there. So, win-win."
Unlike the Bulls of late.
