(670 The Score) Bulls forward Patrick Williams is set to miss a chunk of time with his left foot injury.
Williams has been diagnosed with an acute bone edema in his left foot, the team announced Tuesday morning. He’ll begin a period of active rest and be reassessed in approximately two weeks, the Bulls said in a news release.
For practical purposes, that means Williams will likely be out at least through the All-Star break and miss at least eight games. The Bulls play their final game before the All-Star break on Feb. 14, then play their next one on Feb. 22. Williams returning just after the All-Star break is the best-case scenario, as there's no specific timetable for his return, coach Billy Donovan said.
Williams has missed four games this season. The first three were due to right ankle ailments. He then sat out Chicago’s win at Portland on Monday due to his left foot injury, which has been something that he’s been managing for some time, he told reporters.
The loss of Williams is a big blow for the Bulls, as they’ll be undersized at power forward in the weeks to come. Williams is averaging 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 27.3 minutes across 43 games, 30 of which he has started. Williams is also a strong defender, particularly off the ball.
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.