Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich out Thursday night, Deng and Gibson game-time decisions

The Chicago Bulls will be without guard Kirk Hinrich in Thursday's night's Game 6 against the Nets, reports the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson. Hinrich is suffering from a bruised left calf. Forwards Luol Deng and Taj Gibson are sick and did not participate in the team's shootaround. They will both be game-time decisions.

The Bulls lead the series 3-2 and Hinrich's defense of Deron Williams was a key factor in all three of the wins. When Hinrich was not covering Williams (during Games 1 and 5), the Nets' guard averaged 22.5 points on 51.7 percent shooting; in the three games when Hinrich guarded him, Williams averaged 19.3 points on 44.7 percent shooting, according to NBC Sports.

Hinrich, 32, is averaging 11.3 points and 5.8 assists in the playoffs so far.