NEWSLETTER
Only seconds into tonight’s battle with the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury.
Jones landed awkwardly after trying to evade Kevin Durant on a Bulls’ fastbreak. He immediately hit the deck and reached for his right knee, staying down before trainers had to help him up.
Take a look:
Looks like he twisted it pretty bad planting here. Hope DJJ is ok pic.twitter.com/PMBNQTgTWM
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) January 13, 2022
Jones was able to put a little bit of weight on the leg as he walked off the floor, but he still leaned on trainers as he began his trip back to the locker room. While we can’t be sure until the team makes the official announcement, it feels unlikely Jones return to tonight’s game.
Let’s just hope this is one of those situations where it looked worse than it was. Considering the team’s lack of frontcourt depth – and an injury already to defensive sparkplug Javonte Green – Derrick Jones Jr. has been a much-needed presence on that end of the floor.
UPDATE:
The Chicago Bulls gave us the official word we were waiting for. Jones will not return to tonight’s game. Hopefully, we can get some kind of positive update on his status after the game.
Injury Update: Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee) is out for the remainder of the game.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 13, 2022
