The Bulls infirmary is always full before facing the Hawks for the “play-in” between the 9th and 10th in the Eastern Conference. So, Onuralp Bitim suffers from retinal detachment and the Thing will have to undergo an operation, synonymous with the end of the season. Two other glitches are more annoying for Billy Donovan, and these concern Ayo Dosunmu (thigh) and Andre Drummond (ankle).
“As for him and Ayo, I just don’t know. The shootaround (on Wednesday) will be interesting to see. Even if they participate, they have to follow their treatment and we will see where they are”, warns Chicago coach. “Andre didn’t do anything (Tuesday). But he did individual work (Monday). His ankle ended up swelling. Ayo and Andre have both been absent for a while with no real physical contact or play. So we find ourselves in a situation where it's now or never. So I just don't know what to expect and if these two guys are able to play. »
Ayo Dosunmu missed the final four games of the regular season with a quadriceps contusion but participated in Tuesday's practice, unlike Drummond.
Ayo Dosunmu likes the Hawks
“I really wanted to play in New York”recalls Dosunmu. “But it didn’t seem like a good idea and it wasn’t good timing. So I just asked if I could do a two-minute opposition, going back and forth… To see how my breathing was, to see how my movements were. »
His presence would be all the more valuable as Dosunmu had good games against the Hawks this season. If he only averages 12.2 points this season, he is at 21 points per game against the Hawks. In February, he even broke his career points record (29) against Trae Young's teammates.
“It’s probably because of my scale and my competitiveness”replies Dosunmu, when asked about his success against Trae Young. “He’s a competitor. So when you put two competitors against each other, it's fun. I'm just trying to do as much as I can to keep him out of rhythm and not make a mistake, and not send him to the line. »
If the Bulls could therefore be deprived of two important players from their rotation, let's also remember that Atlanta also has its share of absentees since Jalen Johnson (right ankle), Saddiq Bey (left knee) and Onyeka Onkongwu (right foot) are absent.
