(670 The Score) Bulls star guard Zach LaVine has been ruled out for Chicago’s game at Phoenix on Wednesday night due to a sprained right ankle.
It will mark the first game that LaVine has missed this season. He has dealt
with the ailing ankle for the past two games, and he shot just 4-of-16 in the Bulls’ loss to the Warriors on Monday, after which he admitted resting might be the smartest move.
“I just don’t think physically he’s been right the last couple of games,” Donovan said. “He sprained that ankle and then reinjured it again against Golden State. The one thing I don’t want to have happen – obviously, he’s going to play a major part with medical too – but I think when you see a guy run the way he’s running sometimes and moving like he’s moving, the last thing you want to do is have him have another injury because he’s compensating on something.”
LaVine is averaging a team-high 27.5 points along with 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists. It’s unclear how long he might be out. Chicago plays at Utah on Friday night.
Bulls guard Coby White (neck) and wing Garrett Temple (hamstring) will each be sidelined as well Wednesday. This will be the second straight game White misses, while Temple was hurt in the loss Monday. With those three out, a pair of recently acquired players in wing Troy Brown Jr. and guard Javonte Green could have bigger roles for the Bulls.
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.