The Chicago Bulls have lost nine of their past 10 games entering Saturday's visit to the New York Knicks, but the team might at last be gaining an important piece of its rotation.

Center Wendell Carter Jr., out since Jan. 6 with a high ankle sprain, estimated he has an "80 to 90 percent chance" of being part of the rotation at Madison Square Garden. He likely will be under a minutes restriction when he returns.

"It's been pretty frustrating because I've been wanting to get back out there right after All-Star break, but I knew it was going to be a process," Carter said. "So, just getting my wind back. They told me (the ankle) is not going to be 100 percent perfect when I come back. Just moreso getting my strength back in my ankle because I haven't been playing for over a month now. It's going to be a little bit weak but continuing to play, continuing to put more stress on it is going to make it stronger."