Markkanen's comeback on track after full practice
MILWAUKEE — Any Bulls story these days must include a Lauri Markkanen recovery update, so here's the latest.
Markkanen felt good after going through a full practice at the Advocate Center on Tuesday, so he's planning to do another full-contact practice on Thursday in Detroit.
“I felt fine. I mean, of course I got a little rust at the start, but I think once the practice went on I started feeling comfortable again and at least I didn't have any pain this morning,” Markkanen told reporters at Wednesday's shootaround in Milwaukee. “So I think it was a success.”
Markkanen hasn't played in any games this season after suffering a sprained right elbow during the first week of training camp. The feeling is he'll make his 2018-19 debut sometime next week, perhaps in Indiana on Tuesday.
“I felt like I was in pretty good shape, so that wasn't too bad,” Markkanen said. “My shot felt fine. The rhythm of the game and that kind of stuff (was challenging), but it got better as time went on.”
Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis, who have been recovering from knee sprains for the past month, are both with the team on this three-game trip. The hope is they'll be ready for full-contact practice next week.
Rookie thrown in fire quickly:
Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison got another chance to match up against Milwaukee's MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo on Wednesday. He's gotten some challenging assignments already in his rookie season.
“You go from being a fan to being a player quickly,” Hutchison said before the game. “You don't really get time to adjust to it. Early on it was a little overwhelming, exciting and that type of thing, but as I've been able to play more and get used to it, it's been something that I've been more comfortable.
“(Playing early in his rookie season) is something I don't take for granted, even though other things happened for me to be put in there, obviously some injuries that you never want. I try to just play as hard as I can and use the opportunity.”
Hutchison missed three games with back spasms, but said there were no issues when he returned to play 19 minutes on Monday against San Antonio.
“I just tweaked it in practice and it was giving me pain, discomfort,” he said. “It was really hard to move and get into certain positions on the floor and go full speed. So it kind of locked up there, but I guess rest and treatment and things like that helped ease it out.”
Valentine has surgery:
Denzel Valentine had his left ankle stabilization surgery on Tuesday in Green Bay, Wis. The procedure was done by Dr. Robert Anderson, and Valentine is expected to be able to resume basketball activity in six months. He posted an Instagram photo from his hospital room with his lower leg in a cast.
Bucks center John Henson had surgery as well on Tuesday, getting work done on his left wrist in New York. Reports suggest he could return late this season.