Hughes optimistic he'll be back soon

After getting an MRI exam on his dislocated right shoulder Thursday, Bulls guard Larry Hughes felt optimistic that he'll make a quick recovery and only miss a couple of weeks.

Hughes was injured in the third quarter of Wednesday's 85-75 preseason victory at Minnesota when he dived to the floor chasing a loose ball, and Timberwolves forward Mike Miller appeared to land on Hughes' arm.

"Right now, it's just kind of sore. It just feels like I need a couple days' rest," Hughes said at the Berto Center. "I'll have a little better feel once they run one more test. It's really weird that its not bothering me as much as it should."

Hughes, who had his right arm in a sling, said dye will be injected into the shoulder today, then he'll go through another MRI exam. It remains to be seen whether the injury is minor or if Hughes could be out for a month or more.

Meanwhile, Ben Gordon missed another practice with a sore left big toe.

"He's had plenty of time to heal, and if he's still sore, he's still sore," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "That's a day-to-day situation and hopefully he'll start feeling better. We need to get some work done."

The Bulls also trimmed the roster to 13 by releasing swingman Roger Powell and forward Michael Ruffin, the latter out since the second day of training camp with a sprained ankle.