Gordon iffy vs. Minnesota
Ben Gordon shot some free throws left-handed and participated in defensive drills Monday at the Berto Center, but he didn't sound very optimistic about his chances of playing tonight against Minnesota.
The Bulls' leading scorer has missed the past three games with a sprained right wrist, and the team scored just 77 points in each of the last two contests (both losses).
"I'm feeling better," Gordon said. "I was able to do a little more ballhandling and close layups and stuff like that. I still can't really shoot with it. I want to come back when it's 100 percent so I don't have to worry about it in the back of my mind."
Point guard Chris Duhon was back on the sideline Monday after deciding he needed more time to recover from a bruised left knee. Duhon suffered the injury on Jan. 19 against Detroit, missed two games, then played in the last two.
"I knew he was in a lot of pain," coach Jim Boylan said. "He was getting some (pain-killing) shots in order to be able to play. I was hoping it wouldn't happen, but you could kind of see it.
"He missed a couple layups (Sunday against Phoenix). He didn't have the explosion he needs to finish around the basket. He tried. We all appreciate that."
Timberwolves get better: The Bulls face an odd scheduling quirk this week: Their only two games against Minnesota this season will take place on consecutive days, beginning tonight at the United Center.
The Timberwolves (8-35) own the NBA's worst record but have come alive recently to win three of their last four games. Fourth-year power forward Al Jefferson piled up 40 points and 19 rebounds in Sunday's comeback win over New Jersey.
"He's been putting up some huge numbers," Bulls coach Jim Boylan said of Jefferson. "We've got our hands full with him down low. It's a tough challenge.
"Ben (Wallace) is going to have to play him. Joakim (Noah) will have to play him. Maybe Aaron (Gray) will have to go out there and bang with him a little bit. He touches the ball almost every time down the court. He'll put pressure on our interior defense."
'Having a great time': Monday represented the one-month anniversary of Jim Boylan being named interim coach, so he was asked to reflect on the experience.
"It's been exhilarating. It's been depressing," he said. "It runs the gamut of emotions. But it's been fun overall. I'm having a great time doing it.
"When I was working for (Michigan State's) Jud Heathcote, he used to say, 'If it wasn't for the games, this would be a pretty good job.' Sometimes those games get in the way."