NEWSLETTER
While Nikola Vucevic was given the green light to rejoin the team before last night’s game, the timetable for his return to the court is still unclear.
Head coach Billy Donovan told reporters on Sunday that Vucevic is going to start the necessary cardiovascular screening, which one can only hope will lead to a return sometime this week. However, we do officially know that return will not come tonight, with the team’s latest injury report officially listing him as OUT.
Nikola Vucevic Officially Out of Isolation, So That's a Good Start https://t.co/ty1XVlC5hJ
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 21, 2021
Joining Vucevic on the injury report is Alex Caruso. The Bulls’ defensive hound has yet to miss any games this season, but he appears to have suffered a left wrist contusion that will make his availability for tonight questionable. While Caruso seems like someone prepared to play through most bumps and bruises, the fact this is a back-to-back set makes it feel all the more likely the Bulls could be without him against the Pacers. A questionable designation does tell us the injury is nothing serious, but if it’s even causing minor discomfort ahead of tonight’s game, the training staff could be more inclined to rest Caruso to ensure he is 100 percent for the rest of the week.
If the Bulls were to be without Caruso, it could make for an interesting challenge. The Pacers have not been off to the best start this season, but they do have a number of tough offensive backcourt weapons in Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, and rookie Chris Durate. Having Caruso there to help keep one or two of these guys in check would be ideal.
