Chicago Bulls' PF Taj Gibson powers through ankle injury

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson injured his ankle in the first half against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, but stayed in the game and helped guide the Bulls to a victory. Gibson said he re-aggravated an injury he suffered in the playoffs last season, "but I just kept playing and had to hurry up and ice it down."

Gibson finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes during the Bulls' 100-89 win. Gibson said, "I just was trying to focus on getting stops on defense," but added that he had no lift.

Coach Tom Thibodeau was proud of Gibson's play. "It showed a lot of toughness - mental toughness, physical toughness - to get through it," Thibodeau said after the game.

Gibson is confident he will be ready to play when the Bulls take on the Knicks on Friday in New York. "It's the Garden. I can't miss that," Gibson, a New York native, said.