The last time the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz faced off, the NBA was a much different place. The two teams collided back on November 4. It was both Chicago's and Utah's seventh contest of the season. Entering the November bout, the Bulls were 3-3, while the Jazz were 0-6.
Utah ultimately broke its six-game losing streak with a 135-126 win over Chicago. The loss began the Bulls' sub-.500 streak, which has extended throughout the season. The high-scoring affair saw all Chicago starters score in double-digits. Coby White led the charge, dropping 28 points, including six three-pointers. Ayo Dosunmu added 25, Nikola Vucevic scored 23, Josh Giddey chipped in 15, and Patrick Williams contributed 13.
Bulls' guards, Ball and Giddey, remain sidelined
Former Bull Zach LaVine was absent from the contest, so was Lonzo Ball, who missed his third of 15 games with a right wrist sprain—the same injury he's currently tending to. This time around, the 27-year-old guard has missed seven consecutive games and will be out tonight against the Jazz.
Ball hasn't appeared in a contest thus far into March and isn't with the team amid a six-game Western Conference road trip. Aside from Ball, Giddey is unlikely to suit up in Salt Lake City. However, the Aussie joined the Bulls on the road trip and made it known he's likely to suit up sometime over the remaining four away games. Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson recently projected a March 20 return date for Giddey.
While the Bulls are relatively healthy at this juncture in the season, the same cannot be said of the Jazz. Utah lists eight players on its injury report. Five have been ruled out, and the rest have been deemed questionable. Of the eight players mentioned, only two appeared in Utah's contest on March 16 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jazz to be without several key contributors
Utah's leading scorer, Lauri Markkanen, has since been added to the injury report with right ankle soreness. Markkanen has appeared in the Jazz's most recent three contests, but he missed nine straight games prior, from February 24 through March 10. The Jazz were recently hit with a $100k fine for violating the league's Player Participation Policy. Thus, it's likely the 7-foot forward will suit up against the Bulls.
However, fellow starting forward John Collins will noticeably be absent from Utah's lineup for the foreseeable future. Collins suffered a left ankle sprain against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 12 and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Besides Collins, Collin Sexton, fresh off a 22-point outing, will miss Monday night's contest as he rests his left ankle.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Lonzo Ball (Right Wrist Sprain).
Doubtful: Josh Giddey (Right Ankle Sprain).
Probable: Coby White (Right Toe Sesamoiditis).
Utah Jazz
Out: John Collins (Left Ankle Sprain), Taylor Hendricks (Right Fibula Fracture), KJ Martin (Right Elbow Bursitis), Collin Sexton (Left Ankle - Injury Management), Jaden Springer (Lower Back - Injury Management).
Questionable: Jordan Clarkson (Left Plantar Fasciitis/Illness), Keyonte George (Left Foot Contusion/Illness), Lauri Markkanen (Right Ankle Soreness).