On Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets (34-24) will take on the Chicago Bulls (26-33), hoping for their second straight victory. The last ten matchups between Brooklyn and Chicago have ended in a tie five times.
The latest injury report for Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls
Both the Bulls and the Nets had high expectations for the upcoming 2022-23 season, but as the two teams meet on Friday in Chicago, the gap between those hopes and the reality of the situation is widening.
ABOUT THE NETS
When the Brooklyn Nets return to action after the All-Star break, they will have a very different mentality than when the season first started back in October.
Brooklyn recently acquired Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in a blockbuster transaction, while Chicago dropped six straight games prior to the All-Star break, dropping them out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
Despite losing their top players, the Nets have maintained their fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
In the final roster for the Nets, Nic Claxton leads the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg) (9.0 rpg).
Coach Jacque Vaughn, who re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, believes that solid defense is the key to the team’s future success.
The Nets’ offensive strategy should therefore center on increasing the tempo.
Any thoughts on Ben Simmons?
Alex Schiffer of The Athletic notes that Simmons‘ status against the Bulls on Friday is in doubt due to left knee pain.
Depending on the severity of Simmons’ injury, Edmond Sumner, Cam Thomas, and Yuta Watanabe could see increased playing time in his absence.
Simmons’s next potential game is Sunday’s contest against Atlanta if he is unable to suit up against Chicago tonight.
The Nets Injury
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
INJURY STATUS
|
| Ben Simmons | Feb 23 | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
ABOUT THE BULLS
Chicago hasn’t won a game since February 6, when they extended their winning streak to three with a 24-point home defeat of San Antonio.
This was the Bulls’ fourth such streak of the season, but their failure to go on a longer winning streak has been caused by injuries and inconsistent play.
After the All-Star break, the Bulls added veteran and hometown hero Patrick Beverley in an effort to increase the team’s dynamism and strengthen the point guard position ahead of a postseason push.
After a buyout agreement following his February 9 trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, Beverley was waived by Orlando.
Chicago is looking to sweep Brooklyn for a second straight season after winning two of the three previous encounters.
If LaVine’s team is playing the Nets, he scores 26.7 points per game.
Are we going to see DeMar DeRozan on Friday?
DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls’ best scorer, experienced hip soreness but was able to practice without contact on Wednesday and report improvement in his condition Thursday.
According to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, DeRozan (quadriceps) said after Sunday’s All-Star Game that he will be fully healthy for Friday’s second-half opener against the Nets.
The Bulls Injury
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
INJURY STATUS
|
| Goran Dragic | Thu, Feb 23 | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
| Javonte Green | Wed, Feb 22 | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 8
|
| Lonzo Ball | Tue, Feb 21 | Knee |
Out for the season
|
