Just as it seemed the Chicago Bulls were finally turning the corner on the injury front, the bug struck again, and this sting hurts. Chicago has a staggering 11 players listed on the injury report, with three already ruled out ahead of their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets.
Bulls’ injury woes pile up
Noa Essengue will miss a potentially significant game as he deals with a shoulder contusion, while Kevin Huerter and Coby White are sidelined with newly suffered injuries. Huerter exited Chicago’s matchup with the Orlando Magic early due to a hamstring strain. Although there’s no firm timetable for the 6-foot-7 marksman’s return, a minimum of a week on the sidelines seems like a reasonable expectation.
Moreover, White has now been diagnosed with a left calf strain, rather than the calf tightness that initially placed him on the injury report. The good news is that his MRI came back clean, leaving him day-to-day instead of week-to-week.
Perhaps the most encouraging news on the Bulls’ injury front involves Zach Collins, who has yet to play this season after suffering a preseason wrist fracture. His splint was removed from the surgically repaired left wrist a little over three weeks ago, and he was assigned to the Windy City Bulls on December 2. According to insider K.C. Johnson, Collins will practice with Windy City again, and if all goes well, he could return to the lineup in the coming days.
Lastly, key reserve Tre Jones appeared on the injury report with a left ankle sprain—an ailment he sustained during a collision with Jalen Suggs that briefly forced him out of the game. However, Jones did return in Chicago’s loss to Orlando, suggesting the sprain isn’t overly serious.
Cam Thomas nearing a return
On the flip side, Brooklyn is dealing with one major injury—Cam Thomas. He has appeared in only eight games this season after playing just 25 last year. It’s technically the same issue that sidelined him for most of last season, though not as severe this time. As Thomas put it, "Nobody wants to be injured, sitting off to the side. But I’m not really concerned about it. I’ll be back in no time."
Nearly a month later, Thomas is finally nearing a return. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI at the end of the week, which should help establish a more concrete timeline for his return to the hardwood. Beyond Thomas, Brooklyn will also be without veteran wings Haywood Highsmith and Terance Mann.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder Contusion), Kevin Huerter (Left Hamstring Strain), Coby White (Left Calf Strain).
Doubtful: Isaac Okoro (Left Lumbar Radiculopathy).
Questionable: Zach Collins (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Tre Jones (Left Ankle Sprain), Jalen Smith (Left Hamstring Strain), Dalen Terry (Left Calf Strain).
Probable: Lachlan Olbrich (Left Calf Contusion), Julian Phillips (Illness), Patrick Williams (Left Wrist Sprain).
Brooklyn Nets
Out: Haywood Highsmith (Right Knee Surgery Injury Recovery), Terance Mann (Right Rib Soreness), Cam Thomas (Left Hamstring Strain).