DeMar DeRozan will make his return vs. Detroit Pistons in Paris

DeMar DeRozan will officially make his return to the Chicago Bulls lineup on Thursday when they battle the Detroit Pistons in Paris, France. The veteran wingman's absence from the team's injury report was a welcome sight for head coach Billy Donovan and his staff, as they will finally be able to rely on DeRozan's scoring prowess and leadership on the court.

More firepower

DeRozan has been practicing with the Bulls and participating in all team activities ever since they arrived to "The City of Lights." It comes as no surprise, then, that DeRozan was no longer seen on the injury report heading to the much-anticipated match-up. In fact, it appears everyone on the Bulls will suit up except for Lonzo Ball and Javonte Green, who are still recovering from knee surgeries.

As the undisputed heart and soul of this Bulls squad, DeRozan will not only bring his nightly averages of 26.1 points, 5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1 steal in 36 minutes, but also his steady leadership and clutch shotmaking. DeRozan has missed the last three games after injuring his quad in a game against the Boston Celtics. The Bulls went 1-2 over that stretch, with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic doing most of the heavy lifting.

Push for the playoffs

The Bulls will try to snatch another victory over the Pistons, similar to when they won the last game with a score of 132-118 on December 30th. LaVine was the star of the show in that game, tallying 43 points on a hyper-efficient 15-of-20 shooting, including five triples. DeRozan added 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists in that game as well.

At 20-24, the Bulls are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race, but they remain in striking distance of a spot. With DeRozan back in the fold, and with LaVine and Vucevic both playing at an All-Star level, Chicago will look to make a strong push down the stretch. The Bulls' first order of business is Thursday's game against the Pistons, which is sure to be an exciting one for fans. Come game time, DeRozan's presence will surely give the Bulls a spark as they look to make waves in the second half of the season.