The Chicago Bulls have picked up the pace after their rough 5-14 start to the season, but injuries have hit them hard. Zach LaVine has been out for a while, and Nikola Vucevic is now set to miss some time. They’ve been rolling with Andre Drummond as their starting center.
On Saturday night, they have a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, home to one of the best big men in all of basketball. However, he won’t be playing. Joel Embiid is slated to miss the game against Chicago with an ankle issue. It will mark his fourth missed game in a row.
Just because Embiid is out doesn’t mean the game will be a walk in the park, though. Tyrese Maxey has been playing at an All-Star level this season, and Tobias Harris has picked up his game as well.
Joel Embiid (ankle) out at least 2 games.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) December 29, 2023
As for the Bulls, they have a long injury report heading into the game against Philadelphia. LaVine and Vucevic remain out, and Torrey Craig will also miss the contest. Patrick Williams and Jevon Carter are both probable to play.
Chicago will be looking to get back on track on Saturday after losing to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. They’ve lost two of their last three games after going 8-3 in their previous 11.
That said, they have successfully climbed their way back into the Play-In Tournament mix. Early in the season, it looked as though they could be headed for a rebuild, and while that still may be in the cards, they now have a chance to compete for something more, should they choose that route.