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Report: Jimmy Butler Set to Return from Elbow Injury

March has not been kind to the Chicago Bulls. But it’s about to get better.

Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson have each missed an extended period of time due to various injuries, and the Bulls have limped to a 5-7 record during the month.

However, Gibson returned in Chicago’s last outing—a 107-91 loss to the hapless Detroit Pistons—and Butler is reportedly ready to go. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the shooting guard will likely return against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Butler’s return could hardly come at a better time.

The Bulls are entering a favorable stretch that includes the Hornets, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Pistons. Chicago is currently a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors for the No. 3 seed in the East yet only holds a 1.5-game advantage over the Washington Wizards.

Butler, who has averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per outing, is a top backcourt scoring option and lockdown defender. The Bulls can survive sans Rose, but not without their two best perimeter players.

While Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic have carried Chicago in Butler’s absence, the Aaron Brooks-Kirk Hinrich-Tony Snell combinations cannot replace what the shooting guard provides on a nightly basis.

As long as he stays healthy, Butler will be a key to the Bulls locking up home-court advantage for the first round of the 2015 NBA playoffs.

Photo: USA Today

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