Six of the nine Bulls newly listed day-to-day since Oct. 20 sat out the next game, a higher rate than the league's. Swain is listed to return Monday at Philadelphia and Nic Claxton on Nov. 4, so the next three games show whether the listings hold.
Six of nine. By our count, nine Bulls have been newly listed day-to-day since Oct. 20, and six of them missed the next game. That is 67 percent. Around the league it is 65 of 112, or 58 percent. The sample is small, but the label has not been a promise here.
Minutes already gone. Injuries have taken 470 minutes from Chicago since Oct. 20, which ranks 16th most hurt of 30 clubs. That is the middle of the pack. The worst single day took 62 minutes out of the rotation. Today it is 28, all of them Claxton's.
Swain is the test. Dailyn Swain was listed out, then day-to-day, with a back issue on Oct. 30, and he stayed day-to-day on Oct. 31. The listing has him back Monday at Philadelphia. Patrick Williams went from day-to-day to out twice before he cleared Oct. 30, so Monday's status is a question.
Claxton's 27.8 minutes. Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring issue, and the listing has him back Nov. 4 at the Knicks. He averages 27.8 minutes, more than any other body missing. Until he plays, those minutes go to Jalen Smith, who averages 8.8 rebounds in 24.1 minutes.
Health is not the whole story. A middle-of-the-pack injury count does not explain a 121.6 defensive rating over six games. Chicago has allowed 124 or more points in five of them. The Bulls are 1-5 and 13th in the East, with a four-game losing streak.
Philadelphia has a list too. The 76ers are 6-1 and winners of three straight. Joel Embiid and LeBron James are day-to-day, and Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti are out. Tyrese Maxey is scoring 29.6 a night regardless. Check both injury reports before tip-off, not just ours.
How often do Bulls players listed day-to-day miss the next game?
Six of the nine Bulls newly listed day-to-day since Oct. 20 missed the next game. The league rate over the same stretch is 58 percent.
When is Nic Claxton expected back for the Bulls?
His listing has him back Nov. 4 at the Knicks. He is out with a hamstring issue and averages 27.8 minutes a game.
