The Bulls are 1-4 and 12th in the East after three straight losses, and they visit the Celtics tonight. Jalen Smith was their best big against the Knicks, and he is now listed game-by-game with a left finger injury.
Smith's hand first. Smith went on the injury report Thursday with a left finger issue, and his estimated return is today. Losing him would sting. Against New York he had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks with zero turnovers, and finished +12. With Nic Claxton's hamstring carrying an estimated return of Nov. 4, Smith is the frontcourt.
The rest of the list. Tobe Awaka is no longer listed out with his ankle and is now game-by-game. Patrick Williams is still out with a groin injury, with an estimated return of today. If both are available, Tiago Splitter finally gets some bodies back. If not, the same thin rotation goes to Boston again.
Forty-three in the fourth. The Knicks scored 43 in the final quarter Wednesday. Jalen Brunson had 14 of them on his way to 38, and Jordan Clarkson added 12 off the bench. Chicago scored 31 in the fourth, which is enough to win most nights. The stops never came, and a game the Bulls had led by 19 slipped away.
Who closes. Splitter played Leonard Miller in the last five minutes with Caleb Wilson, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Norman Powell. Miller was -24 over 17 minutes. Tre Jones and Noa Essengue were each -12. The starters scored 94 and the bench 33. Smith or Miller at winning time tonight is the open call.
Boston, round two. The Celtics won the first meeting 134-99 on Oct. 26. They are 3-1 and have won three straight, and Jayson Tatum is averaging 28.0 points and 8.0 assists through four games. Boston played last night and is without Devin Carter, out with an illness. Chicago had a day off.
Powell carries the load. Powell scored 30 Wednesday, hitting 10 of 15 shots, and is averaging 21.6 points. Wilson is at 20.8 points a night with 7.0 rebounds, but he is making 22.2 percent of his threes. The Chicago Sun-Times' Jeff Agrest is already writing about young-Michael Jordan vibes. The jumper has to come first.
Is Jalen Smith playing for the Bulls against the Celtics?
Smith is listed game-by-game with a left finger injury, and his estimated return is Oct. 30, the day of the game. His status is not settled.
When will Nic Claxton make his return for the Bulls?
Claxton is out with a hamstring injury. His estimated return is Nov. 4, when the Bulls play at New York.
