Following a two-point win over the Utah Jazz, the Chicago Bulls travel to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first game of a doubleheader. Chicago will then host Brooklyn at the United Center on January 18.
Giddey, Collins still sidelined for Bulls
Since this won’t be a true back-to-back, we’re likely to see Coby White in both contests. The seventh-year guard is completely off the injury report ahead of the first game, and that should hold true for the second. However, backcourt mate Josh Giddey remains out with a hamstring strain.
Giddey has missed eight consecutive games since suffering the injury in late December. Nonetheless, there’s optimism he’ll return to action before the month is over. Ahead of Chicago’s tilt with Utah, Billy Donovan said Giddey is using this week to ramp up, and if all goes well, he should be back shortly thereafter.
On the other hand, Zach Collins, who suffered his injury just days before Giddey, is slated to miss far more time than initially expected. Donovan said he does not expect Collins to return before the All-Star break. The 28-year-old big man has been in a walking boot since suffering a toe sprain and will need to remain in it for at least another two weeks before being re-evaluated.
Other than those two, Julian Phillips is once again listed as questionable with a wrist sprain, while Kevin Huerter is deemed probable due to hip flexor tightness. Phillips has now been questionable for three straight games, though he was ruled out before tip-off in each of the previous two. This marks Huerter’s first appearance on the injury report with a hip flexor designation, but given the probable tag, it’s likely the 6-foot-7 wing will be in the lineup.
Brooklyn close to full health
The Nets are close to a clean bill of health. Only Haywood Highsmith, who underwent knee surgery in the offseason, and Ziaire Williams, who is recovering from an illness, are listed with injury designations.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (Right 1st Toe Sprain), Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder Surgery), Josh Giddey (Left Hamstring Strain).
Questionable: Julian Phillips (Left Wrist Sprain).
Probable: Kevin Huerter (Right Hip Flexor Tightness).
Brooklyn Nets
Out: Haywood Highsmith (Right Knee Surgery, Injury Recovery), Ben Saraf (G-League Assignment), Ziaire Williams (Return to competition reconditioning).