Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine is hopeful to return to the floor after a five-game absence due to a sprained left ankle. If LaVine does return Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach Jim Boylen will bring him off the bench, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

Boylen stressed this is his standard procedure for players missing time due to injury, as he employed a similar practice with starting point guard Kris Dunn, who had missed nearly every game of the regular season before returning on Dec. 10.

Dunn played 20 and 26 minutes, respectively, in his first two games back from his knee injury. LaVine could see a similar treatment from the rookie head coach, despite being the team's leading scorer with 23.8 points per game.

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LaVine had been itching to play even after first sustaining the injury during a 40-minute losing effort against the Orlando Magic in Mexico City. Since, the Bulls have avenged their loss on foreign ground and gone 3-2 without LaVine, including a two-game win streak that they ride into this post-Christmas tilt against the Timberwolves.

Zach LaVine has put up career-high marks in scoring (23.8), rebounding (4.9) and assists (4.8) throughout this young season, hoping to merit the four-year, $78 million contract he received in the summer.