Feb. 13--Instead of showing off his skills Saturday night, Jimmy Butler likely will be rehabbing his strained right shoulder.
In fact, that's Butler's plan for most of All-Star weekend, which is why the first-time All-Star dropped out of Saturday's Skills Challenge with the Hawks' Dennis Schroder replacing him. Butler still is hoping to play limited minutes in Sunday's game.
The Bulls were scheduled to fly a member of the training staff to New York to aid in Butler's rehabilitation. Butler also is expected to return to Chicago after All-Star weekend to continue rehabilitation on the shoulder, which he played through Sunday in Orlando but aggravated badly Tuesday when a Reggie Evans screen drilled him.
"Hopefully, it will be short-term," coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Break time: The NBA extended the All-Star break this season, with the Bulls not even allowed to practice per the collective bargaining agreement until Wednesday night. The Bulls' first game post-break is Feb. 20 at Detroit.
"I like it, particularly for the guys who are involved," Thibodeau said of the All-Star break. "It gives them a chance to get a little bit of a break after the All-Star break too."
On a roll: The Cavaliers entered Thursday night's game at the United Center winners of 14 of 15, a streak that followed a stretch of sub.-500 basketball, LeBron James being injured and speculation about first-year coach David Blatt's job. The additions via trade of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov helped.
"It starts with LeBron coming back healthy and it continues with our roster changes and the fact we have been able to play together as a full team for an extended period," Blatt said.
Layups: Hawks forward Paul Millsap will replace injured Anthony Davis and team with Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and Sky All-Star Elena Delle Donne in Saturday's Shooting Stars event. ... The Bulls had the Jackie Robinson West team that got stripped of its national Little League title for using out-of-boundary players as guests earlier this season. "Man, I have nothing love for them," Joakim Noah said. "It's all good. Titles stripped? Come on. They're still champions in my eyes."
