Lauri Markkanen exited Sunday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors late in the 4th quarter due to a calf contusion. The good news: He wasn’t on the floor to see the Bulls lose in heartbreaking fashion. The bad news: He is now questionable for Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards.
Lauri Markkanen is listed as questionable on Bulls injury report for Tuesday’s game in Washington. Markkanen missed the final minutes of Sunday’s loss to the Warriors with a left calf contusion.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 28, 2020
Markkanen has been easily the team’s best player over the Bulls first three contests to start the season. The fourth-year big man is averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game on a very efficient 52.8 percent clip from the field and 47.6 percent from downtown. The Bulls have relied heavily on him to get their offense going in the early portion of each game thus far, and with the rest of the offense finally meeting him halfway in Game 3, it feels like his absence couldn’t come at a worse time.
Fortunately, it does look like the Bulls could get back veteran power forward Thaddeus Young, who has missed all three games (as well as the four preseason games) with a left leg infection.
Bulls list Thad Young as probable. Young got pregame shots up yesterday. He has yet to play with a lower leg infection. https://t.co/Ikvd9lfgo3
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 28, 2020
Considering he has yet to take the court this season, it’s hard to imagine he will look completely caught up to speed in the Bulls new system. With that said, having him available could certainly limit the damage done by a possible Markkanen absence. And even if Markkanen does play, it should do the Bulls plenty of good to have him back in the rotation.
While I know he may not necessarily be a fan-favorite, Young’s experience will be a welcomed presence to this team’s second unit. He can further help the Bulls on the defensive end, as well as be another stabilizing force on offense. Veterans like Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple have already looked like two of the more comfortable players on the court this season, and I have to imagine Young will follow suit.