Posted Oct 23 2008 6:39PM
DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Larry Hughes showed up to Bulls practice on Thursday with his arm in a sling, but he won't know how long he'll be out until a second MRI exam Friday.
Hughes dislocated his right shoulder Wednesday during an exhibition game in Minnesota and could miss the next six to eight weeks.
But Hughes said that timeline could be cut drastically after X-rays and an MRI on Thursday showed no damage. The shoulder felt sore, but wasn't causing him any pain, he added. He'll get a dye injection for his second MRI.
"Right now it's OK," he said. "Tomorrow we'll have a better feel after I take another test."
Hughes was hurt in the third quarter of Chicago's 85-75 win, when his arm was caught under Minnesota's Mike Miller while the two dove for a loose ball.
"I went down one way and my arm went the other way," Hughes said.
The 29-year-old guard said doctors told him it was a fluke injury and shouldn't be a recurring problem. He got his shoulder popped back into place shortly after leaving the game.
Fellow guard Ben Gordon didn't practice much after missing his fifth preseason game with a jammed right big toe. Gordon did some light work on the court, but didn't go full-out during practice. The Bulls' final preseason game is Friday at home against Milwaukee.
Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas tweaked his right ankle Tuesday and sat out Wednesday's game. Bulls first-year coach Vinny Del Negro is trying be patient with all the injuries.
"You can't speed the healing process," he said of Gordon. "If he's sore, he's sore."
Gordon could play Friday, but Del Negro admitted the team won't show too much of their normal game plan against the Bucks, whose coach, Scott Skiles, was fired by Chicago last Christmas Eve.
The Bulls open the regular season at home against the Bucks on Tuesday.
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