(670 The Score) Bulls star guard Zach LaVine will miss his team's game at the Indiana Pacers on Friday evening due to back spasms, coach Billy Donovan said.
LaVine had played through the ailment for the past two games, but after he logged 42 minutes in an overtime loss to the Raptors on Thursday, he and the Bulls agreed it was best to rest on the second half of the back-to-back. The Bulls are in a stretch in which they're playing seven games in 10 days.
"Yesterday, it flared up a little bit more," Donovan said of LaVine. "He got some treatment after the game, and he got treatment again this morning and then this afternoon before coming over here. It had been something that was maybe lingering. It's just, I think the pain has gotten a little bit more – I don't want to say severe, but certainly the pain has increased."
Donovan expressed optimism that LaVine can play Sunday, when the Bulls host the 76ers.
"He wants to get back out there," Donovan said. "If he can play, he's going to play. I don't want to jump to any conclusions until I talk to medical and see what tomorrow looks like and how he's feeling tomorrow."
LaVine is averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists and has earned All-Star honors for the second straight season. This will mark his eighth missed game of the season.
The Bulls and Pacers tip-off shortly after 6 p.m. CT Friday.
Pregame starts at 5:45 p.m. on 670 The Score.
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
