Projected starting lineups
Dirk Nowitzki’s absence has been well-noted, but there will be a notable absence for the Bulls on Saturday night in Dallas.
Wade won't play in Dallas. Will be left behind for rest.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 2, 2016
Dwyane Wade will not travel to Dallas with the Bulls. There’s no panic. It’s just a rest day for Wade, who had quite a bit of fun playing against LeBron James on Friday night.
(Note: Doug McDermott and Michael Carter-Williams will not dress either on Saturday night. Both are still recovering from their previous injuries.)
Projected starters for the Bulls:
Rajon Rondo, Jerian Grant (in the place of Wade), Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez
Projected starters for the Mavericks:
Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Dorian Finney-Smith and Andrew Bogut (who will be coming off rest from Thursday’s game against Charlotte)
Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg could look to Isaiah Canaan off the bench to start instead of Grant, and then have Grant and Denzel Valentine run the back court off the pine, but Grant looked fine as a starter when Rondo missed a couple games during the Circus Trip with an ankle issue.
You would have to assume he gets the nod over Valentine, despite neither one of them playing hardly at all on Friday night. (The two combined for 10 total minutes against the Cavaliers.)