Dunn surprised by severity of knee injury
Kris Dunn was as surprised as anyone that he landed on the disabled list, so to speak, for 4-6 weeks with a left-knee sprain.
The injury happened during the second quarter of Monday's loss at Dallas. But Dunn kept playing and got off the plane in Chicago that night thinking everything was fine.
"When I came down (after a driving shot attempt), it felt weird," Dunn said at Wednesday's shootaround. "You can see after the play that I was kind of like wobbling when I was running back. I just thought it was a bruise. So I kept playing.
"It got a little stiff on the plane. I don't know if it was altitude. And then that night, it really locked up on me. I tried to ice but it got worse."
Before leaving the arena, Dunn was checked out by one of the Mavericks' team doctors, who recommended a precautionary MRI. By the time that was over, Dunn was given a diagnosis of 4-6 weeks on the sideline with an MCL sprain.
The Bulls' point guard already missed the first two games of the season for the birth of his son, so Monday was his regular-season debut. The Bulls went back to Cameron Payne as the starting point guard Wednesday night against Charlotte.
If he misses six weeks, Dunn won't return until early December. The Bulls also are playing without Lauri Markkanen (elbow) and Denzel Valentine (ankle).
"(I'll) give it probably about a week-and-a-half and then try to build strength around the knee again," Dunn said. "Try to get back on the court and do the little things.
"It comes with the game. So I have to accept it, be a man about it. When I come back, try to come back with a good spirit, positive and get back to work."
Bulls deal with bad hand:
With another early-season injury taking out Kris Dunn, fill-in Cameron Payne was asked about the mood on the team.
"Obviously, it's painful," he said. "We haven't had our full team in probably two or three years now. It just still keeps happening. Obviously, it's tough for the team, but we still have to play hard."
Early-season injuries have been common for the Bulls, including Derrick Rose's broken orbital bone and Nikola Mirotic's facial fractures, both suffered during training camp in recent years.
"Guys are hanging in there as much as possible," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "For the guys that this will affect, their roles and their minutes, it's a great opportunity for them to come and see what they can do."
Bulls horns:
Charlotte forward Frank Kaminsky is the nephew of Bulls assistant coach Karen Stack, who moved to the bench this season after working as assistant to the general manager for three decades. The former Wisconsin star played in high school at Benet Academy in Lisle. … Backup center Cristiano Felicio saw his first action of the season Wednesday, with two different stints in the first quarter.