The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks square off for the fourth time this season tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Bulls cruised through the first two contests, winning by an average margin of 13 points. The third of four games seemed to be yet another smooth-sailing victory before the Hawks erased a 21-point deficit to stun the Bulls 141-133.
Potential All-Stars Trae Young and Jalen Johnson led the late-game surge against Chicago, combining to score 27 of Atlanta's 50 fourth-quarter points. Missing Josh Giddey, Ayo Dosunmu, and Lonzo Ball, Chicago started Dalen Terry and played seldom-used reserve Jevon Carter for nearly 36 minutes in the eight-point loss.
Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and De'Andre Hunter have been ruled out
This time around, Chicago won't have to worry about Young and Johnson leading a fourth-quarter onslaught. The Hawks' leading scorers have been ruled out ahead of tonight's contest. Young will miss his first game in January due to a right rib contusion while Johnson will miss his fifth consecutive contest as he continues to nurse a right shoulder injury.
Aside from Young and Johnson, Atlanta's third-leading scorer and Sixth Man of the Year candidate, De'Andre Hunter is slated to miss his second straight game. Hunter remains out due to left foot soreness. The 27-year-old had played well against Chicago this season, averaging 19.5 points and shooting 46.5 percent from the floor.
Bulls guard trio remains questionable hours before tip-off
The Hawks have ruled several other players out besides their three leading scorers. As for the Bulls, only two players have been ruled out, while three have been deemed questionable. After missing Sunday night's game against the Sacramento Kings, Coby White returned to the lineup, despite a questionable designation, to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Following Chicago's loss to New Orleans, White reappeared on the injury report, dealing with the same neck sprain that caused him to miss the game against the Kings. White's backcourt mate, Ayo Dosunmu, has been upgraded to questionable after spending almost a month in street clothes. Dosunmu has a chance to make his return to the hardwood after missing 10 straight games.
Another member of the Bulls' backcourt, Lonzo Ball, is expected to miss tonight's contest despite being listed as questionable. Although there's a chance he'll suit up, Ball's "injury management" diagnosis alludes to a much-needed day of rest for the 27-year-old guard.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Torrey Craig (Right Ankle Sprain), Adama Sanogo (Knee).
Questionable: Lonzo Ball (Injury Management), Ayo Dosunmu (Right Calf Strain), Coby White (Cervical Strain).
Atlanta Hawks
Out: Kobe Bufkin (Right Shoulder Surgery), De'Andre Hunter (Left Foot Soreness), Jalen Johnson (Right Shoulder Inflammation), Larry Nance Jr. (Right Hand Surgery), Zaccharie Risacher (Left Adductor Irritation), Trae Young (Right Rib Contusion), Cody Zeller Personal).