On the night of March 11, the Chicago Bulls and first-year head coach Billy Donovan returned to the home court at the United Center to take on the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Donovan and the Bulls did have a bit of momentum heading into the All-Star Break, as they won their last game.
That aforementioned last game for the Bulls that resulted in a win came with a four-point triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans and star forward Zion Williamson back on March 3. In between tip off against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center on March 11, and the win over the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 3, Bulls fans got to see star shooting guard participate in the festivities during All-Star Weekend.
LaVine got to represent the Bulls in both the All-Star Game (for the first time in his career), and in the 3-Point Contest for the second straight year.
Nonetheless, there was a lot of building anticipation for the Bulls heading out of the All-Star Break and on into the second half of the regular season schedule. That’s why it was so important to come out of the All-Star Break strong against the Sixers on this night.
Lauri and Otto could return to the lineup tomorrow vs. the Sixers https://t.co/6gAQaUkXlX
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) March 10, 2021
Chicago Bulls injury update
And there was really good news that arrived for Donovan and the Bulls in the wake of a number of injury issues since the turn of the calendar year. The Bulls were set to get back both veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen.
Markkanen was the main player of importance for the Bulls to get back into the rotation. But there is at least a slight possibility that the Bulls will look to deal out Markkanen and OPJ, since they both sit in the final year of their current contracts.
However, it is nice for the Bulls to get them back in the mix for the time being. Markkanen has missed the last month or so of game action for the Bulls in dealing with a shoulder injury. For the season in total, Markkanen has only played in just over a dozen games.
OPJ is in a similar situation to Markkanen as he hasn’t played in all that many games for the Bulls this season. He was dealing with a back injury that’s kept him out of most games that the Bulls have played in to date.
Donovan and the Bulls hold a record of 16-18 from the first half of the regular season schedule. They will look to continue to stay firmly in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference if they can pull off the upset of the Sixers on March 11.