The front half of a four-game in five-night stretch isn’t where the Bulls need to be dealing with any more injuries than they already have been. But, here we are. Both Zach LaVine and Coby White are listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
Bulls list Zach LaVine (back) and Coby White (adductor) questionable vs. Pacers.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 4, 2022
Coby White is dealing with an adductor issue and Zach LaVine continues to deal with lower back spasms that started a handful of days ago. LaVine has played through the back issue in back-to-back contests against Orlando and Toronto, but he’s clearly not 100 percent, and he was in visible pain near the end of the loss to Toronto. White played 22 minutes last night in Toronto and scored 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
LaVine expressed after last night’s game that he was in pain and laboring through his 42 minutes of action. LaVine told reporters that he would see how he feels today before making any decisions on his status for tonight’s contest with Indiana.
Zach LaVine says he’s been playing the last two games with back spasms. “It hurts. That’s what happens when you play a 42 minute game with back spasms”
Says he’ll see how he feels in the morning for tomorrow’s back to back vs Indy
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) February 4, 2022
Despite playing a healthy amount of minutes, LaVine was visibly absent from the action finishing the first three quarters with just five points on field shots. LaVine did turn it up a bit in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points to help the Bulls close the gap against the Raptors, but it might be time for LaVine to rest the back.
Eli discusses LaVine’s status in more detail in this morning’s bullets, which you can check out right here:
Zach LaVine is Playing Hurt (Again), All-Star Rosters, Vucevic’s Best Game of the Season, and Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/XiFC8STZet pic.twitter.com/tq2ifHptAB
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) February 4, 2022
Update: Zach LaVine is out tonight. Given what’s at stake this season, I don’t think this is a terrible idea after such a long game last night. Just rest, get better, and make it to the playoffs with the full team healthy and ready to go.
Zach LaVine is out vs. Pacers, per Billy Donovan.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 4, 2022
UPDATE II: There is hope on the horizon.
The Bulls are hopeful LaVine will rejoin the lineup for Sunday's home game against Philadelphia.
"He wants to get back out there," Billy Donovan said. "If he can play, he's going to play." https://t.co/xyeSivG99T
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) February 4, 2022