After missing the past two games of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol expects to return for Game 6 on Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A strained left hamstring kept Gasol on the bench for Games 4 and 5, but Gasol vowed Wednesday to play. The Bulls trail 3-2 and face elimination in the best-of-seven series.
“I’ll be out there,” Gasol said. ” … What percentage I will be, that’s what I’ll give.”
Gasol, a five-time All-Star, went through running and shooting drills at Wednesday’s practice but avoided jumping. He has received treatment on the leg after it started to bother him in Game 2.
Without Gasol, the Bulls have lost two straight since he last played 22 minutes in Game 3 before leaving with the injury.
“It’s frustrating,” Gasol said. “It’s not easy. It’s painful. It’s hard. But things like this happen, sometimes at the worst times.”
The 34-year-old Gasol averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds while remaining relatively injury free in his first season with the Bulls after winning two championships during a long career run with the Los Angeles Lakers.