Not everybody made it via customs late Tuesday evening.
After the loss to the Raptors, the Bulls determined to go away Lauri Markkanen, who was battling fatigue, in Toronto. Markkanen went to a neighborhood hospital for some assessments, spent the evening in Canada, then flew again to Chicago on Wednesday morning.
Coach Jim Boylen stated Markkanen was already in his workplace by 2 p.m., pleading his case to play towards Portland.
“He’d prefer to play,’’ Boylen stated.
By the time the sport — a 118-98 loss to the Trail Blazers — was over, nevertheless, the Bulls introduced that Markkanen can be shut down for the remainder of the season.
“His assessments from his fatigue episode within the first half in Toronto got here again all constructive, however we’re going to be cautious with him these final 10 days,’’ Boylen stated.
The main concern was a fast coronary heart price, and whereas preliminary assessments have all come again OK, the group desires to do extra testing within the subsequent 10 days to ensure.
So the Finnish 7-footer will find yourself averaging 18.7 factors and 9.zero rebounds in 52 video games. His February, nevertheless, is what the Bulls will probably be pinning their hopes on. Markkanen averaged 26 factors and 12.2 rebounds in a 10-day span, giving the group a glimpse of future heights.
As far as Year 2, nevertheless, it was about defending Markkanen from himself at this level.
“He’s fatigued and worn out, and we’re not going to take an opportunity,’’ Boylen stated. “I observed it in the course of the first half [of the Toronto game].’’
Since being chosen with the seventh general decide within the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen has missed his share of video games, whether or not with a again difficulty or an elbow damage, however this episode was a primary, Boylen stated.
“I believe it’s all the time severe when a man doesn’t really feel properly,’’ Boylen stated. “We all the time take these issues to coronary heart. He’s a giant a part of what we’re constructing, an essential piece to the longer term. He’s a younger, creating man. As a lot as we predict each second on the ground helps us, we even have to guard him and his future.’’
Center Robin Lopez agreed.
“You wish to have everyone on the market, clearly,’’ Lopez stated after the newest loss. “It’s unhappy, however we’ve all been there sooner or later in our athletic careers. But the video games don’t go away.’’
As far as the remainder of the strolling wounded for the Bulls, the information was solely barely higher. Besides Markkanen, the Bulls additionally have been with out regulars Otto Porter Jr. (proper shoulder), Zach LaVine (thigh, proper patellar tendinitis) and Kris Dunn (again).
That meant a beginning unit of Wayne Selden Jr., Lopez, Shaquille Harrison, Brandon Sampson and Antonio Blakeney. That’s not precisely quite a lot of resistance for a 47-27 Portland group to need to sweat over, and that’s the way it performed out, with the Trail Blazers leaping out to a 27-14 lead within the first quarter and by no means trying again.
Harrison led the Bulls with a career-high 21 factors, however the greater concern for Boylen was when — or if — he would begin getting his regulars again.
Porter — like Markkanen — seems like a participant who received’t be seen in a sport once more this season.
“Every second this group might be collectively, that we are able to get to know one another, play collectively, see who matches with who, is essential,’’ Boylen stated. “We want we have been at full power, however we’re not. As you realize, within the NBA, no person is feeling sorry for us, so we gotta transfer on.’’