Golden State continues to grapple with Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear, Chicago will be without guard Tre Jones through at least the All-Star break, and Miami has ruled rookie center Kelel Ware out for the weekend.
Warriors
The Warriors were pleased with the on-court chemistry Butler had begun to develop alongside Stephen Curry, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Butler’s knee injury has taken an emotional toll throughout the locker room.
“We have to make the necessary adjustments to try to keep a semblance of our identity,” Curry said. “Emotionally we have to move on as fast as possible.”
The organization has told Butler it intends to keep him and bring him back once he is healthy next season. No trade discussions are underway, per the report.
Bulls
Tre Jones has been diagnosed with a strained left hamstring and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the Bulls announced. The timeline likely sidelines him until after the All-Star break.
In his first full season with Chicago, the 23-year-old is averaging 12.4 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while starting 20 games. Although not a high-volume three-point shooter, he has been efficient inside the arc, steady at the free-throw line and has posted an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio.
Jones helped fuel the Bulls’ recent three-game winning streak and appeared to suffer the injury during Thursday’s victory in Minnesota. Chicago is 2-4 without him this season.
With Jones sidelined, Josh Giddey—fresh off his own hamstring recovery—is expected to shoulder additional playmaking duties.
Heat
Rookie center Kelel Ware missed another game because of a right hamstring strain and will also sit out this weekend, head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. Spoelstra called the injury “not long-term,” but the team has sent Ware home for treatment while monitoring his progress, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Source: Hoops Wire
