Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen, others, not with the team vs. Bucks

On New Years Day, the Chicago Bulls will be pretty shorthanded as they look to pull off the upset on the road against the Bucks.

A challenge will be presented in a new way for the Chicago Bulls in the back end of back-to-back games on the night of Jan. 1. The Bulls get their first game of this calendar year against a rather difficult opponent in the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Jan. 1. Although the Bucks are off to a rather disappointing 2-3 start to this regular season slate, they still boast a lot of talent alongside the reigning back-to-back MVP and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Both the Bulls and Bucks come into this key meeting in the Cream City on Jan. 1 with a record of 2-3. The Bulls are coming off two straight wins on the road over head coach Scott Brooks and the Washington Wizards, on Dec. 29 and 31 in the nation’s capital. The last win for the Bulls over the Wizards came on New Years Eve, by the narrow final score of 133-130.

First-year head coach Billy Donovan saw a nice turnaround for this Bulls team after a rocky 0-3 start to this regular season slate. The Bulls started out the season with losses to the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks. But it would be very much a step in the right direction for Donovan and the Bulls to get a win over the Bucks on the road on New Years Day.

The Bulls will reportedly be a bit shorthanded in their efforts against the Bucks on Jan. 1. They will be without the likes of power forward Lauri Markkanen, combo guard Tomas Satoransky, point guard Ryan Arcidiacono, and small forward Chandler Hutchison, in line with the NBA’s health and safety protocols involved with COVID-19.

Hutchison actually tested positive for COVID-19 entering the weekend, so he will be without the team for a good while in all likelihood.

Those are notable losses too for the Bulls to be without the likes of Markkanen and Sato in a key divisional showdown like they have on Jan. 1 against Giannis and the Bucks. Markkanen was off to a hot start through the first four games of the season, and now injuries and health protocols are holding him out of his second straight game.

Sato has also missed some additional time since Training Camp and the preseason.

Getting Sato and Markkanen back healthy and as firm pieces to this rotation will be key for Donovan and the Bulls.

The Bulls will tip off against the Bucks at 7 p.m. CT in Milwaukee. They will likely put rookie forward Patrick Williams or veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. at the four in place of Markkanen. And look out for second-year point guard Coby White to really log some heavy minutes at the one with both Arcidiacono and Sato out.