Jimmy Butler leaves game in wheelchair

[mr.MUskie]

DENVER — He went down, but unlike so many other times, Jimmy Butler didn't get up when he took an awkward fall and landed on his left knee late in the second quarter of Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets.

The Bulls announced that Butler sprained the same left knee that kept him out of Wednesday's game in Sacramento, and he was wheeled off in a wheelchair right before the half. But after the wheelchair was brought out, Butler eschewed leaving the floor immediately despite being in serious pain and took his free throws — because if he hadn't, he wouldn't be allowed to return to the game.

Butler had been taking contact all game and was having one of his best games to date before the injury, and one has to wonder how this will affect him going forward.

Butler scored 19 with five assists in the first half, making one of his two free throws before limping back to the wheelchair and being assisted to the locker room, hearing applause from the pro-Bulls crowd.

One has to wonder if it'll be awhile before he hears the roar on the floor again.