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Injury report: Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Goran Dragic, Ayo Dosunmu, Derrick Jones Jr. vs. Phoenix Suns
The Chicago Bulls (9-11) visit the Phoenix Suns (14-6) tonight, looking to win their second straight game after they beat the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Lonzo Ball is still out for the Bulls with a knee injury. Alex Caruso (right ankle), Goran Dragic (neck stinger), Ayo Dosunmu (right knee soreness), and Derrick Jones Jr. (right thumb sprain) are listed as probable.
Chicago Bulls starting lineup:
C: Nikola Vucevic
PF: Patrick Williams
SF: DeMar DeRozan
SG: Zach LaVine
PG: Ayo Dosunmu
Will Caruso, Dragic, Dosunmu, and Jones play against the Suns?
Caruso played through a right ankle sprain in the win in Utah and finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said he would balance Caruso’s minutes to ensure the guard doesn’t demand too much of himself and leave his body vulnerable to injury.
“It’s really important for me to be out there playing,” Caruso said last month. “I don’t think I change the way I play — that’s what got me here. That’s why the Bulls want me on the team. That’s why Billy loves what I do with my energy, my defense and how I bring other guys along.”
Dragic is still bothered by the neck injury he suffered in the November 21 win against the Celtics, but he’s probable against the Suns. He had 7 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes against the Jazz.
Dosunmu is also listed as probable ahead of this game due to a right thumb sprain. The second-year point guard likely picked up the injury sometime during the game against the Jazz on Monday. Barring setbacks, he will keep his spot in the starting lineup against the Suns.
Jones likely picked up his right thumb sprain sometime during the last few games. Although he is available to play, the backup forward may not see the court in Phoenix, as he’s played in just two of the last five games for Chicago.
