Mirotic returns, but Gibson joins Chicago Bulls' injured list
The Chicago Bulls were on track to be back at full strength Tuesday, but just as Nikola Mirotic returned from an illness, Taj Gibson was sidelined by left-ankle soreness.
Gibson seemed to favor the ankle at times during Sunday's win at Memphis. The Bulls are hoping it's a minor issue.
"It's something that kind of popped up," coach Fred Hoiberg said before Tuesday's game. "He did have a little bit of soreness in the (Memphis) game. It's not to the point where you're saying this is going something that holds him out awhile. We hope to sit him tonight, have a couple days rest and get him back in the lineup (Friday in Atlanta)."
Hoiberg thought Mirotic would be brought along slowly after missing four games with an illness. Mirotic would normally figure to replace Gibson, but Paul Zipser started Tuesday.
"It's going to take him a little bit of time to get his conditioning level back where it needs to be," Hoiberg said. "I don't anticipate he'll be able to be out here for long stretches without having any practice time. He's just had 1-on-0 shooting sessions, conditioning sessions, weightlifting. He hasn't done a lot of 5-on-5 stuff."
Zipser knows Dirk:
Bulls rookie forward Paul Zipser got his third start of the season, but this one was special since it meant he'd play against Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. Zipser and Nowitzki are two of the few Germans in the NBA.
"Of course, I'm excited to play against him," Zipser said before the game. "I played one summer with him (on the German national team). That was awesome. Now I get a chance to compete with him."
Nowitzki didn't play when the Bulls lost in Dallas on Dec. 3. Even though basketball isn't as popular in Germany as it is in other countries, Zipser said Nowitzki is greatly admired there.
"There are guys, they don't know the sport of basketball, but they know his name," Zipser said. "He's the Michael Jordan of Germany, for sure.
"Everybody who is good in basketball, they call him the 'next Dirk Nowitzki' because they're waiting for the next Dirk Nowitzki. There won't be a next one. For sure not. But we've got a lot of new young players in Germany, and I'm excited for the next couple years."
Zipser didn't start the game guarding Nowitzki since Dallas uses a small lineup with Nowitzki at center. They did guard each other later in the first quarter when the Mavs used Nowitzki and center Salah Mejri at the same time.
Bulls horns:
Dwyane Wade turned 35 on Tuesday. … Nikola Mirotic made his first appearance against Dallas in the second quarter and played the final seven minutes. … Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sat courtside at Tuesday's game, as he often does on the road. … A gold medal isn't enough, apparently. Jimmy Butler received a championship ring from USA Basketball before Tuesday's game.