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NBA Rumors: Bulls Hope Center’s Absence Short Lived, Zach LaVine’s Improvement, Joel Embiid To Sit Out More Games, Plus More

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic‘s consecutive game streak of 186 ended on Tuesday night. Vucevic, who last missed a game at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, sat out the Bulls 118-113 victory over the Atlanta Hawks due to a groin strain. According to head coach Billy Donovan, he is now slated to miss an unspecified amount of time.

NBA Rumors: Bulls Hope Center’s Absence Short Lived, Joel Embiid To Sit Out More Games, Plus More

Vucevic suffered the injury after being dunked on by Cleveland Cavaliers’ Max Strus, but he stayed in the game, which ended up being a 109-95 Bulls loss. Vucevic had an MRI exam following the Saturday game.

Donovan said the team hopes to get the 33-year-old back in 4-to-10 days.

“A lot of it is going to be how he responds to rehab,” Donovan told KC Jones of NBC Sports Chicago. “He obviously was pretty sore after (Saturday’s) game and obviously over Christmas. He came in (Tuesday) for treatment.”

According to Donovan, while Vucevic is sidelined, Andre Drummond will start at center. Drummond turned i24 points and 25 rebounds against the Hawks.

“My mentality is that I’m not a backup,” Drummond said. “I still believe I’m a starter in this league. But the position I’m in now, I take it and play it to the best of my ability.”

Donovan added that the Bulls would have to go small when Drummond was off the floor.

“When Andre comes off the floor, we’re going to have to be somewhat small.”

Donovan’s other options to play the five are Patrick Williams, Terry Taylor, and rookie Adama Sonogo.  Torrey Craig would be another option, but he is sidelined for 3-to-5  more weeks with a heel injury.

With Craig out, second-year wing Dalen Terry is getting some run. Over the last five games, Terry averaged 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14 minutes.

“He knows he’s got to get better,” Donovan told the Chicago Sun-Tines. “But I don’t want him totally focused on that. He’s going to play whether he’s missing or making shots. Even earlier on, when he was getting an opportunity to play, what impressed me was [that] his discipline has increased [his execution] on both ends of the floor.”

Meanwhile, Donovan said that Zach LaVine began “very, very light cutting” yesterday and that “it went well,” but he “still has to ramp up a lot more.” Thursday marks week three of the four-week timetable that LaVine was given at the time of the injury.

Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz received good news before their game against the San Antonio Spurs last night as Keyonte George and Talen Horton-Tucker returned to the court after both players dealt with left foot inflammation. George had sat out six straight contests, while Horton-Tucker had missed the previous two games.

With essentially a full squad, the Jazz snapped a six-game losing streak with a 130-118 victory over the Spurs. George contributed 10 points and four dimes in 24 minutes. However, Horton-Tucker was DNP-Coaches’ decision.

Jalen Duren Returns

The Detroit Pistons got the return of starting center Jalen Duren before their Tuesday night game against the Brooklyn Nets. Before last night’s game, Duren had missed more games (15) than he played in (14). He missed the previous eight games due to a left ankle sprain.

Duren had a huge game in his return with 12 points and 15 caroms, marking his 11th double-double in 15 appearances. Cade Cunningham also turned in a big-time performance with 41 points on 15 of 21 shooting, nine rebounds, and five assists. It was Cunningham’s second 40-point explosion of the season. But the Pistons’ losing streak extended to an NBA single-season record 27 games as they fell to the Nets 118-112.

Tidbits

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will sit out a second consecutive game as he will not play tonight against the Orlando Magic due to a right ankle sprain. Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey said that Embiid’s status for Friday’s clash at Houston after his treatment.

Washington Wizards reserve guard Delon Wright returned to action for the first time since spraining his left knee on November 10. Wright played 13 minutes, totaling seven points, four rebounds, and one assist as the Wizards fell to the Orlando Magic 127-119.

Victor Wembanyama was upgraded from questionable to healthy after testing out his ankle before the game. Wembanyama suffered a mild right ankle sprain when he stepped on a ballboy’s foot during warmups before San Antonio’s game on Saturday. He compiled 15 points on 6 of 15 shooting, seven boards, four assists, and five blocks in San Antonio’s 130-118 loss to Utah last night.

Sacramento Kings center Alex Len, who last played on November 13, was cleared to return to action last night as he was dealing with a high right ankle sprain. Len saw two minutes of action in the Kings’ 130-113 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Bruce Brown sat out the Indiana Pacers’ 123-117 victory over the Houston Rockets due to a right knee bone bruise, marking the second straight game he missed.

 

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