Bulls guard Jimmy Butler leaves game with sprained left knee
— -- DENVER -- Chicago Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler left Friday night's game against the Denver Nuggets late in the second quarter because of a left knee injury. The Bulls said the injury is a left knee sprain, and Butler did not return to the game, which the Bulls lost 115-110.
Butler was injured after he went up for a basket and was fouled by Nuggets big man Joffrey Lauvergne. Initially, it appeared as if Butler's right knee got caught underneath him as he fell, but it was the left knee that was injured.
A cart was wheeled out to the floor to take Butler back to the locker room, but he stayed in the game to take his free throws. A few moments later he got back onto the cart and was wheeled to the locker room to be evaluated.
Butler walked out of the training room about 15 minutes after the injury and was wearing a large ice pack around his left knee. He kept a good sense of humor about the injury, telling staff members, "Y'all get me the Forrest Gump knee brace."
He had 19 points and five assists in 18 minutes before leaving the game.
Butler missed his first game of the season on Wednesday because of left knee tendinitis. Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged after Friday's shootaround that Butler was still dealing with soreness in the knee.
Related Stories
ABC News Live