(670 The Score) Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. continues to be irritated by a back issue.
Porter will sit out due to lower back spasms when Chicago hosts the New York Knicks at the United Center on Wednesday evening. Porter and the Bulls have been trying to mitigate his back flare-ups by limiting his minutes and resting as much as needed this season. Now, Porter could need a longer stretch of rest, coach Billy Donovan said while also adding Porter hasn’t been ruled out for the Chicago’s games in Orlando on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s been something that’s been bothering and nagging with him," Donovan said. "I think I mentioned maybe after the Portland game, we didn’t play him down the stretch. He was not feeling great. He got some treatment. He felt better going into the last game against New York. And I think toward the second half just wasn’t feeling great. So we’re going to try to just help him get corrected and feeling better. Obviously, I think he wants to play, but I think he knows he can’t play to the level he knows he needs to. Right now, we’re going to rest him and let him get some rehab, some treatment and then we’ll see what happens going into Orlando.”
Porter didn’t play late in the Bulls’ loss to the Blazers on Saturday because of back tightness. He did play in Chicago’s win against New York on Monday but once again felt worse as the game wore on. Porter is averaging 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23.3 minutes while playing in 16 of Chicago’s 19 games entering Wednesday.
Asked why the Bulls don’t just shut down the 27-year-old Porter for a longer stretch to get him healed, Donovan responded that Porter has earned the right to have a voice in his playing status -- but he also acknowledged that might end up happening.
“I’m not going to tell a guy, ‘Hey listen, we’re just going to sit you for a week because I think that’s the best thing,’” Donovan said.
“He’s got to be part of those conversations. He’s a grown man. He’s been in the league for awhile, and he knows his body better than anybody else.
“He needs some time to get himself right physically. I don’t think there’s any question about that. But he’s also got to be a part of that discussion in terms of when he really actually feels he’s right.”
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.