Month: February 2022

Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. is expected to return on Saturday against the Thunder.
Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. is available for Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (8 ET, League Pass) after missing one month with a fractured finger, the team announced earlier.

F Derrick Jones Jr. is available for tonight’s game against Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/Ze2OSPK16W
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 12, 2022 Jones Jr. has been sidelined since Jan. 12 after sustaining a bone bruise in his right knee in the Bulls’ 138-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Two weeks later, he suffered another setback when he fractured his right index finger during a workout.
The 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game, shooting 58.2% from the field. He has played in 31 games during his first season with the Bulls, making eight starts.
Chicago (35-21), one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, has been beset by injuries lately to guards Lonzo Ball (left knee surgery) and Alex Caruso (right wrist surgery).
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. […]

Hawks forward John Collins, who left Friday’s game vs. San Antonio with right heel pain, underwent an MRI earlier today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The MRI revealed a right foot strain. Collins is expected to miss the next three games. Following a period of rest, treatment and daily monitoring this week and throughout the All-Star break, his status will be updated as appropriate. […]

With the Nets returning to the court Saturday for the first time since they sent James Harden to Philadelphia in a package for Ben Simmons, coach Steve Nash and star Kevin Durant opened up on a trade that shook the foundations of the Atlantic Division and could impact the fates of everyone in the Eastern Conference.
Simmons, after dealing with a series-crushing case of the yips, has sat out the entirety of the 2021-22 thus far. But as the Nets begin to ramp up toward his return, Nash pointed out that playing next to Durant, Kyrie Irving and fellow newcomer Seth Curry, Simmons’ shot-making has downshifted in the priority list:
“Ben does 1,000 things on the basketball court, and shooting is not one that I’m dying to see,” Nash said. “He’s an All-Star basketball player and has incredible potential to affect games with all the other things he does … I want him to get out there and be dynamic.”

“He is an amazing basketball player.”
Steve Nash discusses the impact Ben Simmons can make for Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/8evq6gTvYS
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 13, 2022 As for Durant, the All-NBA forward said Harden “doesn’t have to explain anything to anybody. He’s his own man, and makes his decisions on his career himself.” But Durant is glad the team “got this thing done” and can move past the “noise”, allowing their focus to shift toward the playoff pursuit and correcting course amidst a 10-game slide.

Kevin Durant shares his thoughts on James Harden’s departure from the Nets. pic.twitter.com/TMJoMJtdA9
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 13, 2022 […]