Bulls leading scorer DeRozan leaves health and safety protocols
There were alarming signs all over the sports world regarding the spread of COVID.
A total of 30 NBA players were listed as out for Friday's games due to health and safety protocols on the injury report, there was a report the Brooklyn Nets are ready to bring back Kyrie Irving as a part-time player due to being short-handed, and the NFL rescheduled games for the first time this season.
The Bulls did receive some good news, though, as leading scorer DeMar DeRozan left health and safety protocols, which means he should be available to play Sunday when the Bulls host the Los Angeles Lakers at the United Center.
The team did not provide any further information about what players were allowed to do Friday. Coach Billy Donovan said Thursday that the NBA required the Bulls to keep the Advocate Center closed except for players dealing with injuries or coming back from time off due to protocols. The league postponed two Bulls games this week because so many players were sidelined, so the Lakers game will be the team's first contest in eight days.
The list available players is subject to change, but for now the Bulls expect to have DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, Javonte Green, Coby White, Tony Bradley, Alfonzo McKinnie, Marko Simonovic, Devon Dotson and Tyler Cook. Matt Thomas has reached 10 days in protocols and Derrick Jones Jr. will reach 10 on Sunday, so both players could return soon.
For a game in Minnesota on Friday, the Lakers had five players in protocols - Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, and Chicago native Talen Horton-Tucker. Russell Westbrook was listed as being in protocols, but then switched to available to play. Former Celtics star Isaiah Thomas joined the Lakers and was expected to debut against the Timberwolves.
Orlando and Sacramento both has six players in health and safety protocols on Friday. Two head coaches, Sacramento's Alvin Gentry and Indiana's Rick Carlisle, are sidelined for the same reason.
The Bulls-Lakers game, originally scheduled for the afternoon, was switched to a 7 p.m. start. The Bulls have two more home games on the schedule this week - Monday against Houston and Wednesday against Toronto.
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