I mean, you have to kind of pity the Bulls at this point because despite all of their injuries throughout the season they are technically fighting for a playoff spot as we enter the final few months of the regular season. So, credit to this group for sticking together, but the job may be getting a lot tougher after Kris Dunn exited Friday night’s game only 13 seconds after tip off against the Nets.
On the first possession of the game Thad Young accidentally smashed into Dunn’s right knee. Dunn was able to hobble off the court and into the locker room under his own power, but was eventually ruled out for the rest of the night.
With all the trade rumors surrounding Dunn this offseason the fourth-year guard out of Providence has seemingly used all the whispers around him as motivation. Although Dunn hasn’t developed his offensive game with the Bulls, he’s become a great defender.
A few days ago, Dunn joined Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the only players in Bulls history to record at least 100 steals in the team’s first 50 games.
Now, the Bulls have to hold their breath as they await a diagnosis on Dunn, who flew back to Chicago to meet with team doctors following last night’s 133-118 loss to the Nets.
Dunn, who has started 32 of 51 games this season, had already been playing through a quad strain before suffering the knee injury Friday night.
And Bulls fans saw just how bad it can get without Dunn’s presence on defense, as Kyrie Irving made all 10 of his field goals in the first half for 27 points, leading to a 54-point game on 19-for-23 shooting overall.
At 19-32, the Bulls trail the Magic by 3.5 games for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and 4 games behind the Nets.
The Bulls have 31 games remaining in the regular season to accomplish their goal of reaching the playoffs, but the injuries might just be too much of a hurdle to overcome.
Another year, same story for the Bulls. Injuries.
