Point guard Kris Dunn, who has struggled to keep up with the Bulls’ recent rising tide under coach Jim Boylen, hit another roadblock Monday.
After being benched in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ victory Saturday against the Celtics in favor of Ryan Arcidiacono, Dunn missed the game Monday against the Bucks because of a severe migraine. The episode was so debilitating that Bulls medical personnel were sent to Dunn’s home to provide medication.
“He’s had migraines before,” Boylen said. “I think this is his first one this year — at least on our practice day or whatever. So I feel bad for him. He’s in a lot of pain — obviously for us to send somebody to his house. He’s not doing real well.”
Dunn was expected to drive to the United Center after rush-hour traffic subsided Monday night and be examined by team doctors. But his migraine symptoms persisted, Boylen said, and he stayed home.
”He’s been in communication with our doctors over the phone, but he didn’t feel well enough to travel over here,” Boylen said after the Bulls’ 117-106 loss to the Bucks. ”He’s hurting pretty good.”
Though the Bulls came into the game with a three-game winning streak and a 4-2 record since acquiring forward Otto Porter Jr. from the Wizards for Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker, Dunn’s impact has withered. He averaged 5.0 points on 10-for-31 shooting in his last four games. He also missed the Bulls’ victory against the Grizzlies on Feb. 13 with a lower-back bruise. Dunn missed 26 of the Bulls’ first 27 games with a sprained left knee.
Porter out
Porter missed the game against Milwaukee with a strained left leg he suffered against the Celtics. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot started in his place. He will travel with the team to Memphis for the game Wednesday night against the Grizzlies.
“Nothing serious, more just like watching it closely,” said Porter, who’s averaging 21.4 points and shooting 57.5 percent from the field — including 14-for-25 from three-point range — in the five complete games he has played with the Bulls.
He said the injury wasn’t the result of one incident.
“I kind of started feeling it throughout the first quarter,” Porter said. “It’s something that slowly built up.”
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Return of Mirotic
Former Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, who was acquired by the Bucks from the Pelicans on
Feb. 7, played in his third game with Milwaukee after missing three games with a strained right calf. He scored 17 points against the Timberwolves on Saturday and 13 against the Bulls.
“He gives them another weapon and intelligent player,” Boylen said. “He can post. He can switch. He can face. And he’s a good kid. I’m happy for him. I’m happy he’s in a good spot.”
One small step for Hutchison
Rookie Chandler Hutchison, who has missed the Bulls’ last 13 games with a broken toe, still is out indefinitely but was encouraged after taking jump shots for the first time Monday.
“It felt pretty good,” said Hutchison, who was selected with a first-round draft pick the Bulls received from the Pelicans for Mirotic. “Every day is a little bit better. Step by step. We’re going to keep increasing it and go from there.”
