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Well, that’s a bummer. We don’t get to see Wednesday the long awaited matchup of Kirk Hinrich vs Ben Gordon.

Hinrich before Monday’s Bulls game in Milwaukee, said he’s hopeful of returning perhaps as early as late this week from what he described as a Grade 2 sprain of his left thumb sustained last week in practice in Portland.

“We’ll see how it goes these next few days,” said Hinrich. “It feels a little bit better today. It’s still fairly weak and sore. I’m just thankful it’s nothing like it was last year (when he missed 31 games). I’ll take the splint off every day and test it.

“They (doctors) said it could be a full two weeks before it feels better,” Hinrich said. “They want me to wear the splint off the court for two months. I have to be able to handle the basketball. That’s the big key. Once I feel I can do that I’ll give it a shot. There’s no way of knowing what will happen with contact, which is the reason for the support. Definitely, I have to be able to catch, dribble, pass (before playing). As soon as I can do those things I’ll try to play, I’m hoping by the end of the week. I’m taking it day by day now. I think it was just a freak thing.”

Gordon remains listed as questionable for Wednesday’s Pistons game in Chicago with a sprained ankle that cost him the last two games. Also questionable is Charlie Villanueva after surgery for a broken nose sustained Sunday and Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince with injuries from earlier this season.

“I’m feeling a lot better each day,” Gordon told Detroit reporters Monday. “Right now I’ll see if I can practice (Tuesday). I think if it continues to progress the way it has hopefully I’ll be able to play Wednesday.”

Asked about returning to play the Bulls after a somewhat bitter departure as a free agent last summer, Gordon was non committal.

“I don’t know,” Gordon said, pausing for several seconds. “I don’t know how it (will be) until I get there. I’m looking at it as another game (editorial comment: Hah!). I’m just trying to get healthy right now.”

Gordon said he’s talked with Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah since he left, but hasn’t spoken lately to his former teammates.

“I learned pretty early this in this league it’s a game, but it’s also a business,” said Gordon, averaging 19.8 per game, 15th in the league. “I don’t feel any disappointing feelings. I’m happy with how everything turned out.”