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Boozer's back, but Gibson nurses new injury

Carlos Boozer returned to practice Sunday and may be ready to play when the Bulls host Sacramento on Monday. But a new injury might be worth some concern.

Taj Gibson wore a walking boot as he walked around the Berto Center on Sunday, the result of a right big toe injury.

“It's just swollen right now. I jammed my toe when I fell on that charge by (Indiana's Brandon) Rush,” Gibson said. “They just wanted me to wear the boot. Knowing me, I should try to play. We'll see by tomorrow if the swelling goes down.”

Gibson grabbed 16 rebounds in Saturday's overtime loss to the Pacers. He's missed just two games during his two professional seasons.

One concern is if the swelling does not go down, this could turn out to be a case of turf toe, which usually requires some rest.

“I couldn't really feel anything until (Saturday) night,” Gibson said. “The swelling kept getting worse. They told me it could be a football injury. I don't know.”

Boozer was noncommittal about his chances of playing Monday. He's missed five games with a sprained left ankle.

Luol Deng also skipped Sunday's practice to rest a thigh bruise, but is expected to be fine.

Bad memories:

The last time Sacramento played at the United Center, the Kings pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history, erasing a 35-point third-quarter deficit on Dec. 21, 2009.

“I definitely learned from that game,” Derrick Rose said. “It was a heartbreaker, but you learn from it. If we're up 30, you try to push it to 40 or 50 points. I remember that game, for sure. The celebration they were doing after they won, I remember it.”

When the Bulls won in Sacramento earlier this season on Nov. 27, Joakim Noah tore a ligament in his right thumb, which kept him sidelined for 10 weeks. So the Kings have brought plenty of bad luck to the Bulls.

“When you're up 35 and lose, that (stinks),” Noah said. “When you tear your ligament in a game, that (stinks), too.”

Cheering from afar:

Derrick Rose was obviously proud of his old high school, Simeon Career Academy, for winning its fourth state title in six years on Saturday.

But he didn't attend the game like Dwyane Wade did a few years back when Richards won the state title. Rose couldn't even watch it on television.

“I had an Adidas commercial shoot, so I couldn't (attend the game). I didn't have a chance,” Rose said. “My shoot was 5 hours. I think everybody knew they were going to win.”