Bulls must try to survive with another injured starter
The list of Bulls who have played in every game keeps getting smaller.
The Bulls gave no official update on the status of Kris Dunn's injured right knee, but he'll definitely miss Sunday's game in Toronto. Dunn was injured just 13 seconds into Friday's loss in Brooklyn. Teammate Thaddeus Young took a charge and struck Dunn's knee when he fell backward.
Coach Jim Boylen said Dunn was expected to get an MRI on Saturday in Chicago. His injury came less than a week after Lauri Markkanen was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his pelvis.
With Dunn sidelined, the Bulls are down to three players who have played in every game - Zach LaVine, Tomas Satoransky and Coby White.
Boylen didn't say anything about who would take Dunn's place in the starting lineup.
He could use a more conventional lineup with Chandler Hutchison at small forward. He started Ryan Arcidiacono in the second half at Brooklyn. Defensive specialist Shaq Harrison, who scored 12 points in 11 minutes against the Nets, is another potential option.
"It's always a challenge when you lose a starter," Boylen told reporters after practice in Toronto on Saturday. "He does things in our system that are big pillars of our system - the defense, the running game, the driving, attacking that we do. So we're going to have to find that other places and move forward."
LaVine laments snub:
Zach LaVine started the season with a goal of playing in the All-Star Game for the first time. He came close, but wasn't named one of the Eastern Conference reserves.
"I understand why," LaVine said Friday in Brooklyn. "I don't think there are 12 players in the East who have had a better year than me. But like I said at the beginning of the year, it's on winning. A lot of our individual success comes with winning.
"It stinks. Everybody feels like they are deserving. But there are only so many spots. A lot of guys can make their case. I'm not going to let it define me or who I think I am. I think I know who I am every time I step on the court. I'm still going out there to help us make the playoffs."
LaVine ranks fifth among Eastern Conference scorers at 25.1 points per game. Two players with higher scoring averages than LaVine didn't make the cut - Washington's Bradley Beal and Phoenix's Devin Booker.
Gafford closer:
Daniel Gafford participated in Saturday's practice and could make his return against the Raptors. The rookie center has missed nine games with a dislocated thumb.
Otto Porter, out since Nov. 6 with a broken foot, did some shooting, but is in the early stages of his return to basketball activity.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Bulls game day
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors, 2 p.m. Sunday at Scotiabank Arena
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Raptors (35-14) have endured some injuries, but were second in the East as of Saturday morning and are riding a 10-game winning streak. ... SF Norman Powell has a broken hand and is out indefinitely an C Marc Gasol missed Friday's win over Detroit with a hamstring injury. ... PF Pascal Siakam, an all-star starter, leads Toronto with 23.8 ppg, followed by PG Kyle Lowry (19.6) and SG Fred VanVleet (17.9). Nick Nurse will coach Team Giannis at the All-Star Game in Chicago on Feb. 16. ... The Bulls have lost 11 straight to the Raptors, including two games earlier this season at the UC. The last meeting was a 93-92 Toronto win on Dec. 9.
Next: New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m. Thursday at the United Center
- Mike McGraw