Friday, Jan. 21, 2011
Posted: 1:50 p.m.
By Aggrey Sam
CSNChicago.com
After missing three consecutive games with a sprained ankle, Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer is expected to return to the lineup Saturday night, when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Windy City.
"I think there's a good chance I'll play tomorrow night," said Boozer following Friday's practice at the Berto Center. "My ankle felt great today. I ran a little bit on the treadmill, got some shots up earlier, walked through some stuff with the team."
"I really wanted to play last night (in the Bulls' win over the Dallas Mavericks), but my ankle wasn't ready yet. It's more ready now, so barring a setback, I'll be out there tomorrow."
Concurred Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau: "He's good. We didn't do a whole lot. Fred cleared him, so if he's okay tomorrow after the shootaround, he goes."
"As long as there's not any problems tomorrow after shootaround, he goes right back to starting."
Boozer detailed his injury, suffered late in last Saturday's Bulls win over the Miami Heat, when he tipped an offensive rebound that eventually wound up in the hands of teammate Kyle Korver, who drained a clutch 3-pointer that led to the victory.
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"When I tipped it, I just came down on the side of my foot--all my weight--right when I landed. So, it was pretty bad, but it's healed up pretty fast," said Boozer, who noted that his rooting interests in Sunday's NFC championship game were with the Bears. "It was about the size of a grapefruit that night, but I iced it all night long, the next three to four days in a row and the swelling has gone way, way, way, way down."
Boozer also had high praise for his teammates in his absence.
"Everybody's played great. Taj Gibson has been averaging five blocks a game, something like that, said Boozer. "Big Omer Asik has been playing phenomenal as well and 'old school'--Kurt Thomas--has been playing great, too. But everybody's been really good. We got two good wins."
Aggrey Sam is CSNChicago.com's Bulls Insider. Follow him @CSNBullsInsider on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bulls information and his take on the team, the NBA and much more.