NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls announced a little under two hours from tip-off that Ayo Dosunmu is cleared to make his return.
The third-year guard missed the final four games of the regular season due to a quad contusion. He was listed as “questionable” coming into the day and told reporters on Tuesday that he was still waiting for swelling to subside. Fortunately, it appears the training staff has seen enough over the past 24 hours to feel comfortable giving Dosunmu the green light.
Of course, we should still keep an eye on how Dosunmu looks when he stops back on the floor. While over a week off can normally lead to some rust, a return also doesn’t necessarily mean he’s 100 percent. I wouldn’t be shocked if the stakes at hand played a role in this decision. That isn’t to say he shouldn’t be on the floor, but that playing through bumps and bruises is even more common during the postseason.
Regardless, there is no denying that having Dosunmu out there should still give Bulls fans a sigh of relief. Few players have defended Trae Young better than the lengthy guard. Not to mention, his uptempo game has come through big against this 27th-ranked Hawks defense. We talked a lot more about how big of a difference Dosunmu can make in our preview for this game, so I encourage you to take a look at that here:
As for Andre Drummond, the big man is reportedly a game-time decision. He’s missed the previous three games after badly spraining his ankle. It’s important to remember the Bulls will go into tonight without another true big man behind Nikola Vucevic. Adama Sanogo – who played on a two-way contract this season – isn’t eligible for the postseason.
UPDATE (8:24)
The Chicago Bulls’ latest injury report lists Andre Drummond as active, per NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson. Considering the limited size behind Nikola Vucevic, this is big news for the Bulls against one of the top offensive-rebounding teams in the league.
Drummond grabbed a ridiculous 54 rebounds in his three appearances against the Hawks this season, proving to be a pivotal part of helping Chicago go 2-1 in the regular season.
