The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers will square off for the fourth and final meeting this season. The Pacers have won all three contests against the Bulls, with each margin of victory coming by at least nine points. Most recently, Indiana defeated Chicago 127-112, led by 27 points from Aaron Nesmith and a 17-point, 12-assist double-double from Tyrese Haliburton.
Tyrese Haliburton in danger of missing a third straight game
Merely eight days later, Haliburton's status is up in the air. The two-time All-Star has missed two of three games since Indiana last took on Chicago. A strained hip flexor has kept Haliburton out of the lineup. Before his first of two missed appearances, Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle said that the "team would approach things on a game-to-game basis." Thus, the floor general is truly a game-time decision.
In Haliburton's absence, the Pacers have dropped back-to-back games against the Atlanta Hawks. Without the 6-foot-5 point guard in the lineup, Carlisle turned to forward Jarace Walker and then Ben Sheppard as a replacement in the opening lineup. If Haliburton misses a third consecutive contest, expect Sheppard or Bennedict Mathurin, who's coming off a 30-point performance off the bench, versus the guard-heavy Bulls.
Bulls' Vucevic set to return, Williams remains questionable
Speaking of the predominantly smaller lineups Chicago has recently trotted out, the frontcourt will see a boost against Indiana. Nikola Vucevic, who has missed seven straight games with a calf strain, is set to return in Chicago's bout against the Pacers. The big man himself made it known he'll be back in the Bulls' lineup.
Besides Vucevic, forward Patrick Williams could see a return to the hardwood. The 6-foot-8 wing has missed the last nine contests following platelet-rich plasma injections to treat tendinosis in his right knee. Prior to going down with an injury, Williams had performed well in a new role off the pine, especially as January wound down. Nonetheless, his production took a hit in the three games leading up to his injury diagnosis on February 20.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Doubtful: Lonzo Ball (Right Wrist Sprain).
Questionable: Nikola Vucevic (Right Calf Strain), Patrick Williams (Right Quadricep Tendinosis).
Probable: Coby White (Right Toe Sesamoiditis).
Indiana Pacers
Questionable: Tyrese Haliburton (Left Hip Flexor Strain), T.J. McConnell (Right Ankle Sprain).