Dailyn Swain's back issue was upgraded from out on Oct. 31, and Nic Claxton has an estimated return of Nov. 4. The help comes with Chicago at 1-5, losers of four straight and still getting buried early in games.
Swain back in play. Swain's back issue had him downgraded to out on Oct. 30. A day later he was upgraded again, with an estimated return of Nov. 2, the Monday night the Bulls visit the 76ers. Jalen Smith and Tobe Awaka were both cleared Oct. 30, and Awaka was on the floor when Friday's game ended.
Claxton's date circled. Claxton has been sidelined since early October with a hamstring issue. His estimated return is Nov. 4 at New York. The Bulls are paying their center $23.1 million, and they need him. Friday in Boston, Mitchell Robinson went 4-4 and Neemias Queta got to the line 10 times off the bench.
Wilson calls it out. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Caleb Wilson criticized the team and himself after Friday's loss. The rookie had already put up 23 points in 31 minutes, made 6-11 from deep and blocked two shots. When the 20-year-old speaks up after a performance like that, the veterans in the room have to listen.
Slow starts again. Boston scored 44 in the first quarter and led 78-49 at the half. Chicago called three of its first-half timeouts right after Celtics runs of 8-0 and 6-0. The Oct. 26 trip to Boston ended 99-134. Both times, the game was decided before halftime.
Bench took the hits. Tre Jones had 12 points and four steals and still finished minus-22 in 20 minutes. Leonard Miller was minus-18 in 11. The bench scored 37 combined. Payton Pritchard scored 30 off Boston's bench and went 9-9 at the line.
Where it stands. The Bulls are 14th in the conference, a game behind Miami for 10th and two behind Atlanta for sixth. At this pace they finish 14-68. Cowley also reported that Patrick Williams' contract carries no weight with this regime. Open question: does Claxton's return fix the first quarters, or does it just give them another body?
When will Nic Claxton make his return for the Bulls?
Claxton is out with a hamstring issue and has an estimated return of Nov. 4, when the Bulls play at the Knicks.
Will Dailyn Swain play against the 76ers on Nov. 2?
Swain was upgraded from out on Oct. 31 with a back issue. His estimated return is Nov. 2, the date of the game in Philadelphia.
