Bulls guard Zach LaVine is predicted to be sidelined for not less than one-to-two weeks after struggling a proper ankle sprain on Thursday towards Toronto, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Bulls confirmed that LaVine will miss not less than per week, per Okay.C. Johnson of NBC Sports activities Chicago.
After exiting to the locker room when he initially suffered the damage within the third quarter, LaVine returned to the bench and tried to play by way of it for a couple of minutes within the fourth, however was hampered. Additional testing on Friday revealed the sprain, says Charania.
It’s an unlucky setback for the two-time All-Star, who missed 17 video games earlier this season with a proper foot damage and solely returned to motion two weeks in the past. Now, he’ll be out not less than one other week or two with an damage on the identical foot.
LaVine has been one of many extra distinguished gamers talked about in commerce rumors this season, although the 4 years and $178M remaining on his contract have reportedly suppressed his market worth. The truth that he’s injured once more only a few weeks earlier than the Feb. 8 deadline nearly actually received’t assist issues on that entrance, both.
When Chicago was struggling early within the season, LaVine confronted criticism for his perceived egocentric play and that solely intensified when the Bulls performed fairly nicely with out him (they have been 10-7).
Nevertheless, they’re 5-2 since LaVine returned to the lineup on Jan. 5, with the 28-year-old taking part in way more of a complementary offensive function in averaging 15.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 5.3 APG on .487/.390/.810 capturing in that span. For context, LaVine has averaged 25.1 factors on 18.6 field-goal makes an attempt per recreation over the previous 5 seasons, vs. 15.6 factors on 11.1 photographs over the previous seven video games.
With LaVine out, gamers like Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter and Patrick Williams may obtain extra minutes. It’s value noting, nevertheless, that Williams is coping with a proper ankle challenge himself and head coach Billy Donovan mentioned it could possibly be an damage that lingers for the remainder of the season, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Solar-Occasions.
