The Chicago Bulls take on the New York Knicks for the third time this season on Thursday, February 20. Despite the vast difference in records, Chicago being 22-33 and New York 36-18, the Bulls have fared well against the Knicks this season.
The Bulls have defeated the Knicks twice. The first time was in November, 124-123, after Coby White converted three free throws with little time left to take the lead and, ultimately, the game. The second occurrence was in early January. Chicago won this contest at home by 13 points. White was the star once again, dropping 33 points in the drubbing.
However, this time around, the Bulls will be short-staffed. Alongside White in Chicago's second contest against New York, former Bull Zach LaVine scored 33 points and added seven assists. Chicago traded LaVine on February 3 and will be without its leading scorer in this third bout against the Knicks.
Bulls' Patrick Williams is out after a pre-All-Star break injury
Furthermore, the Bulls will miss another starter from that same game. Although Patrick Williams has since been moved to the bench, he started in both contests against New York this season. The 23-year-old has performed well versus the Knicks this year. He's averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while drilling 50 percent of his field goal attempts.
Williams will miss Thursday night's contest due to soreness in his right quadriceps. Williams banged knees in a February 12, pre-All-Star break game against the Detroit Pistons. Fortunately, this injury isn't expected to be season-ending. The 6-foot-7 forward practiced fully Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to tonight's affair. However, after suiting up for two straight practices, Williams is set to miss at least two weeks of action following receiving platelet-rich plasma injections to his right knee.
Knicks' Hart already ruled out; Anunoby a game-time decision
While the Bulls will be without one forward, New York will potentially be without two. Forward Josh Hart has already been ruled out due to a knee ailment. It's been deemed patellofemoral syndrome, which, in layman's terms, equates to pain around the kneecap and the front of the knee.
Hart's counterpart, OG Anunoby, is questionable because of a sprained right foot. Anunoby last hit the hardwood on February 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. In that contest, he exited early, in the third quarter, because of a foot sprain.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Patrick Williams (Right Quadriceps Tendon Soreness).
New York Knicks
Out: Josh Hart (Patellofemoral Syndrome), Mitchell Robinson (Left Ankle Surgery).
Questionable: OG Anunoby (Sprained Right Foot).