Bulls' Jimmy Butler out 3-4 weeks with strained knee

Chicago Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler will miss the next three-to-four weeks with a strained knee, the team announced Tuesday.

Butler initially sustained the injury to his left knee in Friday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, something that appeared quite serious at the time. Butler stayed down for a few minutes before getting up to attempt his free throws. He was then carted off the floor.

It's a terrible blow to the Bulls, losers of 12 of their last 17 games. The team is sliding down the Eastern Conference ladder, and will sorely miss its best player. Butler will also sit out the All-Star Game this weekend in Toronto. Not long after his status was announced, the NBA said that teammate Pau Gasol would replace him in the midseason classic.