Bulls' Jimmy Butler Out Monday, Doubtful For Wednesday

(CBS) As he continues to recover from a strained left knee, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler is for certain out for Monday's road game against the Hornets and is doubtful to play Wednesday at home against the Hawks in the final game before the All-Star break.

"I would doubt he would play Wednesday, but then we'll kind of make a determination from there," coach Fred Hoiberg said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Butler suffered the injury late in the first half of Friday's loss at Denver on a scary play in which he heard a "pop" on a drive to the hoop and then fell hard and awkwardly. After staying in the game to shoot his two free throws, Butler was carted off the court in a wheelchair. An MRI on Saturday revealed no structural damage, but a timeline for Butler's return remains uncertain.

Butler's status for his second All-Star Game is also in jeopardy. That games takes place Sunday in Toronto, and Butler has previously expressed a desire to take his close friends and family with him to celebrate what's been a career season. Butler could go to the game and still sit out.

If Butler sits out Wednesday's contest and the All-Star Game, he'd have nearly 13 days of rest before Chicago's first game after the break, which is at Cleveland on Feb. 18.

Butler's averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season. Tony Snell started Saturday in his place, while Mike Dunleavy returned to action as well after missing the first 49 games of the year following late September back surgery.