March 03--After missing 20 games last season and undergoing offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left ankle, Taj Gibson set a goal to play all 82 games this season.
That goal ended Wednesday night when Gibson sat with the right hamstring injury that knocked him out early from Tuesday's loss in Miami. Gibson, who twice has played all 82 games, had been the only Bull not to miss action this season.
Team physician Brian Cole, in Orlando for a medical conference, examined Gibson during Wednesday's game.
"I don't think I should be out long," Gibson said before the Bulls game with the Magic. "I was scared at first because it never had happened to me before."
Gibson said he had been dealing with soreness for a month.
"It was really bothering me but I just kept playing through the fatigue," Gibson said. "When I went up for a dunk against Amare (Stoudemire), it grabbed me and I couldn't function how I wanted. It got worse."
Getting closer: Coach Fred Hoiberg talked to Jimmy Butler following his third straight day of workouts in Chicago and said the two-time All-Star is on track to practice Friday. Barring a setback, he's expected to return from the left knee injury he suffered on Feb. 5 either Saturday or Monday.
"He had a great workout (Wednesday)," Hoiberg said. "It's still too early to tell if he'll play Saturday but he's definitely making progress."
Speaking of Butler, the Boston Herald reported the Celtics engaged the Bulls in talks centered on the two-time All-Star near the Feb. 18 trade deadline. A source said the Celtics offered future picks and current reserves and discussion ended quickly.
Nikola news: Hoiberg said Nikola Mirotic, out since Jan. 27 for an appendectomy and second surgery to address complications, remains "a week-and-a-half, two weeks away." Mirotic may do non-contact work during Friday's practice.
"The biggest thing is the pain and getting his strength and weight up," Hoiberg said. "And confidence, knowing that he can take a blow down in that abdominal area and play through that."
Fine time: Tony Snell missed the team flight from Miami to Orlando and was fined, sources said. Snell who is known as a hard worker and good teammate, spent time postgame in Miami talking with his agent and missed the set time for the bus departure to the airport.
Snell flew commercially to Orlando on Wednesday morning and arrived well in advance of a team film session and meeting.
