Dosunmu, Drummond out at bad time
Several times in the last few weeks, Bulls coach Billy Donovan has complained of being handcuffed by “$70 million not playing.” Make it at least $80 million.
Guard Ayo Dosunmu (bruised right quadriceps) and center Andre Drummond (sprained left ankle) both missed Thursday night’s game in Detroit, and there are growing concerns both could miss the final two regular-season games and possibly the Play-In Tournament game against the Hawks next week.
The Bulls already have been short-handed for a good portion of the season, with guard Zach LaVine and forward Patrick Williams undergoing season-ending foot surgeries on top of guard Lonzo Ball (left knee) being out for more than two years.
Between Dosunmu and Drummond, it sounds as though Dosunmu is in slightly better shape to return after missing his second straight game. Drummond has been in and out of a boot while also using a scooter to get around and keep weight off his ankle.
“I don’t love [that] they’re missing time with the limited amount of games left, and then you talk about after Sunday’s game, don’t know what their availability will be,” Donovan said. “That’s always different for guys, coming back and not having any games to, so to speak, get under their belt.
“I don’t worry about Ayo’s conditioning or Andre’s conditioning. I’m hopeful it’s not going to be longer than the remainder of the [regular] season, but I just don’t know.”
Donovan had enough depth to deal with the Pistons, using Jevon Carter off the bench to help fill Dosunmu’s minutes while rookie Adama Sanogo got some of Drummond’s minutes as backup center — the most meaningful playing time he has had all season.
The other injury the Bulls don’t yet have answers for is rookie Julian Phillips’ sprained right foot. Phillips last played in mid-March, and it might be time to project he’s done for the season.
Campaign trail
The Bulls already have been lobbying for guard Coby White to win the NBA Most Improved Player Award and for guard Alex Caruso to repeat as a member of the All-Defense First Team. On Thursday, they also were pushing veteran forward DeMar DeRozan as a candidate for the second annual Clutch Award, which Kings guard De’Aaron Fox won last spring.
DeRozan, who finished third in that inaugural voting behind Fox and Heat forward Jimmy Butler, entered the Pistons game second in the league in clutch points (177) and first in fourth-quarter scoring (540 points). He also led the NBA in overtime scoring (53 points) and was first in clutch free throws made (64). As a team, the Bulls were tied for first in clutch wins with 26.