Bulls' Nikola Mirotic Undergoes Appendectomy, Expected Out Until After All-Star Break

(CBS) Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic underwent an appendectomy Wednesday after being diagnosed with an acute appendicitis and is expected to be out until after the All-Star break, the team announced.

The procedure was performed at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and Mirotic didn't travel with the team to Los Angeles as it embarks on a seven-game road trip.

The All-Star Game is Feb. 14 in Toronto. The Bulls' first game after the break is Feb. 18, so Mirotic figures to be out at least three weeks and miss the eight games before the break.

Mirotic is averaging 10.6 points on 39 percent shooting while adding 5.9 rebounds per game. He's currently in a bench role after starting at power forward and small forward earlier this season.

Earlier Wednesday, the league announced Mirotic had been selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star weekend, but that's out of the picture now.

The Bulls' frontcourt that is already missing Joakim Noah for the rest of the regular season has now been further depleted. Rookie forward Bobby Portis figures to take on a bigger role, and this could open up a chance for little-used big men Cristiano Felicio and Cameron Bairstow to get a few minutes.