Bulls’ Butler out at least 6 games with turf toe

Jimmy Butler is expected to miss the entire six-game circus road trip because of an injury to his right big toe.

An MRI exam confirmed a turf toe diagnosis, according to team officials. Butler did not travel with the team to Denver and will likely miss two to three weeks.

“It’s part of the game,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters before Wednesday’s practice in Denver. “But we have more than enough. I’ve been pleased with our bench play. So the guys that are called upon, they have to be ready.”

This is another challenge for a team trying to build chemistry after an injury-riddled training camp. The Bulls have won five in a row after starting 1-3. If Butler sits out three weeks, he would miss 10 games.

Coach Tom Thibodeau will have to decide on a replacement. Veteran Mike Dunleavy is a likely candidate, but the first opponent on the trip, Denver, usually starts a small backcourt of Ty Lawson and Randy Foye. Those matchups might cause Thibodeau to start Kirk Hinrich in Butler’s place.

Butler’s injury also figures to give rookie Tony Snell a chance to play. He has appeared in six games this season, but has played only 13 minutes in total. Butler is averaging 11.2 points on the season and, after a slow start with his shooting accuracy, hit 5 of his last 6 shots from 3-point range before the injury struck.

“He was playing great at the start of training camp and then got hurt,” Thibodeau said. “He had a hard time finding his rhythm again and has been playing really well. He’s put an inordinate amount of time in working on his shooting, coming in every night.”

The Bulls flew to Denver early Wednesday afternoon so they could practice in altitude before beginning their first stretch of four games in five nights. Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah are next, before the Bulls return East to face Detroit on Nov. 27.