Jimmy Butler to return vs. Rockets after month-long absence

After spending a month on the shelf, the Chicago Bulls' star player is finally set to return.

Shooting guard Jimmy Butler will play against the Houston Rockets, head coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed Saturday morning.

"Jimmy's ready to go," Hoiberg said, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "He had a really good practice (Friday), came in this morning and made it through shootaround. So we'll monitor him throughout the day, but as of right now he's ready to go."

Butler has been out since Feb. 5 with a left knee strain. Without their two-way force on the perimeter, the Bulls lost nine of their 12 games in his absence.

His return should give the Bulls a much-needed shot in the arm. As of Saturday, Chicago sits on the outside looking in, a half-game back of the Detroit Pistons for the final playoff seed in the East.

Butler's first game back, however, will be anything but easy. He'll be tasked with checking the league's second-leading scorer in James Harden.

Now in his fifth season, Butler is averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in a league-leading 37.9 minutes per game.