Jalen Smith was cleared on the official injury report Friday at 6:09 PM ET, after being listed as day-to-day with a left finger issue. He is available for the Bulls at the Celtics on Friday at 7:30 PM ET.
What happened
Jalen Smith has been cleared to play. The official injury report listed the Bulls forward-center as cleared at 6:09 PM ET on Friday, Oct. 30. That was less than an hour and a half before tip-off in Boston. He had been listed as day-to-day on Thursday, Oct. 29, with a left finger issue. The report gave no further detail and no comment with the update. This is his second time on the report this month. He was day-to-day with a left foot issue on Oct. 9 and was cleared on Oct. 11.
What it means for the Bulls
The Bulls play at the Celtics on Friday at 7:30 PM ET. Chicago is 1-4, sits as the 12th seed and has lost three straight. Smith has played in all five games. He averages 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.5 minutes. With him available, the rotation stays as it has been. Caleb Wilson leads the team at 34.7 minutes and 20.8 points. Norman Powell scores 21.6 points in 29.6 minutes. Matas Buzelis adds 14.6 points in 26.4 minutes, and Leonard Miller adds 9.8 points in 20.3 minutes. Chicago is still without Nic Claxton (hamstring) and Dailyn Swain (back). Both are listed as out.
What to watch
Smith goes into the Boston game with no injury designation. No return timeline was needed, so none was announced. The next injury report will show whether he stays off the list after playing on the finger. Claxton and Swain remain out, and no return date has been announced for either. The Bulls try to end a three-game losing streak on Friday in Boston.
Is Jalen Smith playing at the Celtics on Fri, Oct 30?
He is available. The official injury report listed him as cleared at 6:09 PM ET on Friday, ahead of the 7:30 PM ET tip-off in Boston.
When will Jalen Smith be back?
He is back now. He was cleared on Friday, Oct. 30, after being listed as day-to-day with a left finger issue on Thursday, Oct. 29.