(670 The Score) The Bulls received good news and bad news on the injury front Saturday as they prepared to host the Cavaliers at the United Center.
Guard Alex Caruso will return to action for the first time since suffering a wrist fracture on Jan. 21, while star guard Zach LaVine will be sidelined with left knee soreness, coach Billy Donovan said. Caruso is expected to play between 24 and 30 minutes, Donovan added.
"Certainly, I think getting him back gives you a jolt," Donovan said.
The Bulls went 12-10 while Caruso was sidelined and ranked 26th in the NBA in defensive efficiency during that stretch. He's the Bulls' best defender and is averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 assists per game.
This will mark the ninth game that LaVine misses this season due to a left knee injury or management of the ailment.
"He had some discomfort there, wasn't feeling great, and I think the decision was made by Zach and the medical staff that it's better to take tonight off and just see where he's at come tomorrow and going into Sacramento (on Monday)," Donovan said.
Donovan didn't seem to express heightened concern about LaVine's knee ailment even though he's sitting out after two off days for the Bulls.
"No," Donovan responded when asked if this represented regression in LaVine's health. "Listen, everything I've gotten from the doctors has been that they feel totally comfortable with him playing. There's obviously a team of doctors that are involved in this. One of the doctors that's involved is a guy that handled his ACL surgery several years ago. Obviously, our doctors here, our medical staff, there's a lot of people involved that are making these decisions. And I think that everybody feels very, very comfortable that him playing is OK and it's not necessarily regressing. It's just something he's going to have to manage and deal with throughout the course of the season."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
