After getting most of the crew back following a four-day break since their last game on November 24, the Chicago Bulls hoped to reset—but things didn’t go as planned. Despite missing only Zach Collins and Isaac Okoro, they were trounced by the Charlotte Hornets, 123–116.
Bulls’ injury report filling up again
Now, on the second night of a back-to-back, Chicago’s injury report has grown. Although only two new players were added, one has already been ruled out: Jalen Smith, one of just two Bulls to appear in every game this season, is out with a left hamstring strain.
Smith’s absence leaves the Bulls thin in the frontcourt, with Nikola Vucevic as the only semi-healthy center available. Although Vucevic is expected to play, he’s been managing patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee. Also listed as probable are Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams, dealing with an illness and a wrist sprain, respectively.
Ahead of Chicago’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers, Coby White is easily the most intriguing name to watch. White isn’t dealing with a new injury, but he hasn’t appeared in either half of a back-to-back this season after missing the first 11 games with a calf strain. The 6-foot-5 guard is listed as questionable and is genuinely a game-time decision.
Pacers’ injury woes continue
As for the Pacers, things aren’t looking much better—and likely won’t for the foreseeable future. After an unexpected run to the NBA Finals in June, Indiana has managed just three wins while navigating a rash of injuries, most notably Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending Achilles tear.
Beyond Haliburton, who will remain a fixture on the injury report all season, Indiana has five other players listed as out. Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin are the most significant losses for Rick Carlisle’s Pacers. Nesmith sustained an MCL sprain on November 14 and is expected to miss at least a month, while Toppin underwent surgery in late October to repair a foot stress fracture. The high-flying forward is projected to be sidelined until at least February.
Lastly, Indiana’s third-leading scorer and top assist man, Andrew Nembhard, is listed as questionable. The 6-foot-4 guard missed the Pacers’ Black Friday win over the Washington Wizards, but there’s optimism he’ll suit up. He was a late addition to the November 28 injury report and even participated in shootaround ahead of the Wizards game.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder Contusion), Isaac Okoro (Left Lumbar Radiculopathy), Jalen Smith (Left Hamstring Strain), Dalen Terry (Left Calf Strain).
Questionable: Coby White (Right Calf Strain; Injury Management).
Probable: Ayo Dosunmu (Illness), Nikola Vucevic (Right Patellofemoral Syndrome), Patrick Williams (Left Wrist Sprain).
Indiana Pacers
Out: Johnny Furphy (Left Ankle Sprain), Tyrese Haliburton (Right Achilles Tendon Tear), Quenton Jackson (Right Hamstring Strain), Kam Jones (Lower Back Stress Reaction), Aaron Nesmith (Left Knee MCL Sprain), Obi Toppin (Right Foot Stress Fracture).
Questionable: Andrew Nembhard (Right Quad Contusion).