The last thing Chicago Bulls need right now is injury trouble. Eight of the team’s next nine games are on the road, and they also happen to be in the midst of integrating five new players.
Fortunately, they do seem to be in good shape as they embark on this tough stretch, but we might want to take an especially close look at Zach LaVine tonight. LaVine has been dealing with an ankle injury, one that clearly gave him some issues in the blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The team has now listed him as probable for the 9:00 p.m. CT matchup with the Warriors.
LaVine was clear after the Spurs loss that he had every intention of staying on the court. While that concerns me just a little, I do trust that he knows his body better than anyone. Also, it’s not like he looked completely ineffective in the last performance (18 points, 3 rebounds), and if the team is comfortable moving his injury report designation up from questionable to probable, then it should single he is improving.
#Bulls' Zach LaVine on if he'll consider sitting out a game to rest ailing ankle: “I don’t think that way. I think if I’m able to go out there and play and contribute in any way, if I’m at 50, 60, 70% or whatever, I still think I’m very effective and I can go out there and help."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) March 28, 2021
Likewise, Markkanen has now popped up on the injury report with a Gastrocnemius strain.
Have I ever heard of that? No. But a brief google search suggests it’s an issue with the calf muscle. For the time being, though, I guess the injury isn’t too concerning since he, too, is listed as probable.
Zach LaVine (ankle) and Lauri Markkanen (Gastrocnemius strain) are listed as probable vs. Celtics.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 29, 2021
On the other side of things, the Golden State Warriors are hoping to Steph Curry back in the mix.
The superstar injured his tailbone on March 17th and has missed the last five games. However, just the Bulls luck, he practiced fully on Sunday and has a legitimate chance to return tonight.
Kerr said Steph practiced fully today. He will be listed as questionable now for Monday’s game vs. Bulls. Warriors want to see how he’s feeling after some more post-practice work but it’s possible he plays.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 29, 2021
UPDATE (4:40): Coby White is now questionable for tonight’s game with a sore neck. The second-year guard has yet to miss a game this season.
Coby White is new addition to Bulls’ injury report. Questionable with a sore neck.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 29, 2021
Considering White’s explosive scoring potential, any game without him feels like a decently big loss for the Bulls. Fortunately, if White does end-up sidelined tonight, a “sore neck” doesn’t seem like it should turn into a long-term thing.