Mar 1, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) drives against Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) during the first quarter at the United Center. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago All-Star guard Jimmy Butler will miss at least the next three weeks after suffering an injury to his left elbow in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Monday, the team confirmed that Butler suffered a Grade 2/3 sprain to the ulnar ligament as well as a small bone impaction. He could miss as much as six weeks.
Butler was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the Clippers. He collided with DeAndre Jordan and left the game.
He will avoid surgery and the timetable for Butler returning will depend on how quickly he responds to treatment.
Butler’s injury occurred less than a week after fellow guard Derrick Rose had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Rose is expected to miss the next four weeks.
Butler has appeared in 55 games — all starts — and averaged a team-high 20.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He was leading the league minutes played per game at 38.9.
