The 4–0 Chicago Bulls kick off their NBA Cup campaign in a much-anticipated matchup against the 2–2 New York Knicks. Through the first week of the season, the Bulls have emerged as one of the league’s biggest surprises, standing as one of just four undefeated teams and ranking sixth in net rating.
Coby White is nearing a return to action
Chicago has maintained its unblemished record without last season’s leading scorer, Coby White, who continues to recover from an offseason calf injury. Before the season tipped off, the team announced that White would be re-evaluated after two weeks, putting his earliest potential return on November 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Barring any setbacks, White is expected to return to the lineup next week. While there haven’t been any recent concrete updates, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley reported earlier this week that White is now completely pain-free. Still, the team remains cautious, mindful that an early return could aggravate the injury. The Bulls are taking no chances with White's calf strain—a setback that can become serious if not handled properly.
New York should be injury-free versus Chicago
On the flip side, the Knicks are expected to be at full strength against Chicago. Presumed starting center Mitchell Robinson is slated to make his season debut after sitting out the Knicks' opening stretch of games for “left ankle injury management.” While it wasn’t tied to a new ailment, Robinson missed most of last season recovering from surgery on the same ankle.
Robinson joined the Knicks for their three-game road trip and practiced the day before their Halloween matchup with Chicago. While it’s still unclear whether he’ll suit up against the Bulls—given his lengthy injury history—Knicks insider Ian Begley noted that he “would be surprised if [Robinson] didn’t play,” which is an encouraging sign for New York.
In Robinson’s absence, New York has rotated between Ariel Hukporti, Miles McBride, and Landry Shamet in the starting lineup, depending on matchups. The inclusion of the 7-foot Hukporti suggests that Robinson will reclaim his spot as the starting center once he’s cleared to play. However, with the Bulls starting Matas Buzelis at power forward, the Knicks could again opt for a smaller look featuring McBride or Shamet in the first unit.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Coby White (Right Calf Strain).
New York Knicks
Questionable: Mitchell Robinson (Left Ankle Injury Management).
Probable: Karl-Anthony Towns (Right Quad Strain), Guerschon Yabusele (Left Knee Sprain).