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Bulls believe Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu didn't sustain major injuries
The Chicago Bulls are upbeat about the condition of two of its young players after they reached a vital stage of the season.
According to Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls think Patrick Williams (ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) didn't sustain any structural damage to their respective injury. Amid this, there remains a concern about the soreness that could bother them in performing as the team's rotational units.
"The Bulls medical staff does not believe either injury is structural damage. But these lingering pains are a concern for the Bulls as both players have filled key secondary roles throughout this season," she wrote.
When did the two get injured?
The Bulls have been without Pat due to a nagging right ankle sprain. He picked this injury back on Jan. 3 in a loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. Since then, it tested the young forward's availability, who had missed the team's three of their last six games.
Meanwhile, Ayo left prematurely in Chicago's Monday night loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers after re-aggravating his left shoulder issues, which he started ailing last Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. He ended up with 10 points, three boards, and three dimes before leaving at the final 9:12 mark of regulation.
"In the San Antonio game, I had caught a stinger and it was bothering me. Pretty much all year but it wasn't every day, just on the occasion when I got hit," Dosunmu said of his shoulder injury. "And I got hit in San Antonio. [On Monday], I went for an offensive rebound and there was some contact and my shoulder just went numb, dead and weak."
The Bulls can't catch a break from injuries this season
The Bulls kept going despite Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic's previous absences. As a result, they haven't been able to shake the injury bug this season, with Pat and Ayo both suffering from new injuries.
As it stands, the two talented players have been vital to the Bulls' rotation and future with their energy, effort, and two-way play. At 19-23 and seventh in the East, the team couldn't afford to miss them much longer as they approach the season's pivotal juncture, with 10 games remaining before the trade deadline.
For now, the Bulls can only hope for a positive injury evaluation and a speedy recovery for both Williams and Dosunmu.
