The face-first fall didn’t look good from the start, as Chicago Bulls announcer Stacey King immediately sounded worried after point guard Kris Dunn remained sprawled out on the court following a dunk. Dunn had a bloody mouth and at least a chipped tooth or two, but now the news has gotten worse.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg initially said Dunn wasn’t experiencing any concussion symptoms after Wednesday’s 119-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The guard would be evaluated further and now according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill, Dunn does indeed have a concussion.
After a second round of tests, Kris Dunn has been diagnosed with a concussion, according to sources. As of now he won't be traveling with the team and will be evaluated at a later date
— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) January 18, 2018
Dunn finished the game with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals against the Warriors. Now, it’s unknown when the 23-year-old point guard will return to action, as the Bulls are set to begin a three-game road trip on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.
Kris Dunn lands on his face after dunking. Tooth knocked out (I think) #Bulls pic.twitter.com/UvohKzcLkE
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) January 18, 2018
It’s an unfortunate situation for Dunn, who has finally shown signs of why he was taken fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. His streak of games with at least eight assists ended at seven on Wednesday, but Dunn has also improved across the board offensively in his second NBA season, while proving to be a defensive headache for his opponents.
The Bulls confirmed that Dunn is in the NBA concussion protocol.
INJURY UPDATE: After further evaluation, Kris Dunn’s two dislocated front teeth were stabilized & have been splinted with braces. He was also re-evaluated for concussion symptoms & has been placed in the NBA Concussion Protocol. Dunn is out indefinitely related to the concussion. pic.twitter.com/3crAEvY33s
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 18, 2018
Dunn is averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game on the season. His presence will surely be missed, but in a rebuilding year you should expect the Bulls to take their time bringing Dunn back, especially considering the extent of the injury.
