Bulls guard Ben Gordon didn't play Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers and is not expected to play again tonight at Washington because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

An MRI exam Thursday revealed the injury. Gordon said Friday that there was also some fluid on the knee, though not enough to be drained.

"The only thing I did today was ride on the [stationary] bike to get it loose,'' said Gordon, who was injured in Wednesday's victory at Orlando. "I did a couple of exercises, just to strengthen the muscles around the knee. That was really it.

"There wasn't a tear or anything that serious. It's one of those things where it might feel good, but I just want to wait until it's fully healed. ... [otherwise] the next thing I'm out for another week. I'm just going to take as much time as I need to get it right.''

Gordon regretted that the injury kept him from playing in Friday's game, which included a halftime ceremony to retire Scottie Pippen's No. 33.

"It's tough, especially on a night like tonight,'' he said. "It's going to be jam-packed, and some of the old greats coming back. I wish I didn't have to miss this game, but it is what it is.''