Dunn joins Porter, LaVine on Bulls' injured list
The Bulls expect to be short-handed once again when they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday at the United Center.
Coach Jim Boylen called Otto Porter Jr. doubtful with a shoulder strain. This would be the third game in a row Porter has missed with the injury.
Point guard Kris Dunn missed Friday's practice with a mid-back sprain and he is questionable for Saturday. Zach LaVine did practice and said he'll be a game-time decision. LaVine missed Wednesday's win over Washington with a thigh bruise.
"Still sore," LaVine said Friday at the Advocate Center. "I don't like missing games. But if I'm hurting or there's something that can cause injury for further games, I don't want to risk it. I think I'm smart with how I approach these things. I'm going to do everything I can to play."
The Bulls are down to nine games left in the regular season, five at home.
LaVine skips March:
March Madness usually brings plenty of locker room talk in the NBA. But while Ryan Arcidiacono was asking on Twitter for the best place to watch the Villanova game, Zach LaVine is sitting this one out.
"I think I got to the Sweet 16 my year (2014 with UCLA)," LaVine said. "But I was only there for about five seconds. I don't remember much about it. I remember more about my high school career than college, which is kind of crazy. I'm not really big into March. It's just not my thing. UCLA isn't in it. So I didn't watch a lot of college basketball this year. I'm sorry."
LaVine actually squared off against Bulls teammate Shaq Harrison in the first round of the 2014 tournament. UCLA beat Tulsa 76-59 while the two future Bulls combined to score 2 points. Harrison played 30 minutes for Tulsa, went 0-for-5 from the field.
LaVine scored 2, 1 and 5 points in his three NCAA Tournament games. No wonder he pays no attention to college hoops.
Summer forecast:
Bulls coach Jim Boylen was asked what he'd like to see Zach LaVine work on this summer.
"I would love to see him just continue to grow to be a two-way player," Boylen said. "Dominant at the defensive end, dominant at the offensive end.
"His decision-making is something we always talk about - when to drive, when to shoot, when to pass, when to pocket pass. I think finishing is something he's talked about improving at, playing through contact as he grows and matures will get better and better. I think his ceiling is really high."