It’s been almost a week since the Chicago Bulls last took the court—a 123–91 loss to a shorthanded Golden State Warriors team. But like their opponent, Chicago wasn’t fully healthy heading into the matchup either.
Bulls welcome back trio of players
Against Golden State, Chicago was without Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, and Jalen Smith. After five days of rest, three of those four are set to return. Jones, Okoro, and Smith will rejoin Billy Donovan’s rotation after absences of three, eight, and five games, respectively.
Huerter is the only Bull, aside from Noa Essengue, who will miss a second straight game due to injury. He suffered an adductor strain just six minutes into the December 1 matchup against the Orlando Magic. The 6-foot-7 wing didn’t travel with the team to Charlotte, joining Ayo Dosunmu as one of the players who remained in Chicago.
Dosunmu isn’t a new addition to the injury report. He missed Chicago’s December 5 matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to a thumb sprain, then returned to play 27 minutes against Golden State, though he wasn’t particularly effective. After the game, he visited a doctor, who diagnosed the injury as a Grade 1 sprain—an issue that could sideline him for up to two weeks
Lastly, another player who has lived on the injury report this season is expected to suit up: Coby White. White missed the first 11 games with a right calf strain before later dealing with a minor left calf strain. He’s now back on the report with “right calf tightness,” though he has said he expects to play.
Hornets down three guards
Like the Bulls, the Charlotte Hornets are dealing with their own injury issues. Charlotte has six players ruled out, including former All-Star LaMelo Ball. Ball will miss his second straight game with an ankle bone bruise, continuing a concerning trend of ankle problems throughout his career.
Beyond Ball, the Hornets will also be without fellow guards Tre Mann and Collin Sexton. Mann has missed the past four games with a bone bruise in his right knee, while Sexton will sit out a third straight contest due to a left quad strain.
Expect prominent minutes for young guards KJ Simpson and Sion James, and another backcourt piece should join them as he makes his season debut following offseason shoulder surgery. Josh Green has yet to suit up this year, but he’s now completely off the injury report ahead of tonight’s matchup.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Ayo Dosunmu (Right Thumb Sprain), Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder Surgery), Kevin Huerter (Left Adductor Strain).
Probable: Zach Collins (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Tre Jones (Left Ankle Sprain), Isaac Okoro (Left Lumbar Radiculopathy), Jalen Smith (Left Hamstring Strain), Coby White (Right Calf Tightness).
Charlotte Hornets
Out: LaMelo Ball (Left Ankle Bone Bruise), Pat Connaughton (Right Calf Strain), Tre Mann (Right Knee Bone Bruise), Liam McNeeley (G League Assignment), Collin Sexton (Left Quadriceps Strain), Grant Williams (Right Knee Surgery).
Probable: Moussa Diabate (Right Knee Soreness).