DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer will play Monday against theSacramento Kings, barring a setback, after missing five games because of a sprained left ankle.
"If there aren't any problems before the game tonight, he'll go," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He was fine today."
The Bulls enter play Monday tied for the Eastern Conference lead with the Boston Celtics. Both teams are 49-19, and the Celtics take on the slumping Knicks in New York.
"Knowing me, I should try to play, but we'll see by [Monday] if the swelling goes down," Gibson on Sunday. "If anything, I'll try to adjust and get as much treatment as possible, hope I can get back on the court early."Forward Luol Deng, who did not practice on Sunday to rest a left thigh bruise, will play as well. Taj Gibson, who was seen wearing a walking boot due to an injured right big toe, is a game-time decision.
Boozer, who suffered the injury March 9 after falling to the ground on a flagrant foul by theCharlotte Bobcats' Kwame Brown, returned to practice on Sunday.
Averaging 18.3 points and 9.6 rebounds, Boozer has missed 23 games because of injury this season. Thibodeau is excited to have him back.
"It's great. We want to be at full strength. He adds a lot to our team," he said. "Offensively, low-post game, pick-and-roll game, catch-and-shoot, and defensively with the rebounding, it makes us stronger."
Derrick Rose was excused from practice for personal reasons but will play Monday. Rose has said that he's feeling beat up, but Thibodeau is not concerned.
"Not at all. Because I don't think he's beat up," he said. "I watch him every day. I see how hard he practices. I see how he plays. And I think that's a big part of this league. I think if you're playing significant minutes and you're a primary scorer, and you play defense every night, but I've always seen how he's conditioned in the offseason, and he's prepared himself for this. So he just has to keep moving forward."
