The Chicago Bulls have ruled DeMar DeRozan as out for tonight’s game due to a quad injury, per head coach Billy Donovan. It will be his first missed game of the season.
The team’s leading scorer clipped his foot on Boston’s Al Horford during Monday’s matchup in Boston, aggravating a right quad that has already been giving him some trouble. DeRozan downplayed the injury after the game and went on to enter today as “questionable,” so the hope remains that he could be limited to a one-game absence.
If the Bulls wanted to squeeze in some extra rest for DeRozan, as well, this feels like a fine time to do it. While the Wizards have played Chicago close twice this season (splitting the games 1-1), they have lost three in a row and will be without max player Bradley Beal. Not to mention, Kristaps Prozingis and Daniel Gafford have both been ruled out by Washington, while Corey Kispert is a game-time decision.
I’d be lying though if I said DeRozan’s absence doesn’t concern me. The Bulls aren’t in a position to drop these kinds of games, especially with the Wizards just 2.0 games back in the standings. Both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will have to bring their A-game to make up for DeRozan’s 26 points per game, especially if this one ends up as another crunch-time duel.