Joe Cowley
Chicago Bulls reporter
Joe Cowley covers the Chicago Bulls for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Andre Drummond (left ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (right quadriceps) were sidelined at the end of the regular season, but they were cleared for the game vs. Atlanta, giving coach Billy Donovan some much-needed depth.
Caruso likely will draw the Trae Young assignment first, but with guard Ayo Dosunmu close to a possible return from an injured quadriceps, Young could face a two-headed monster.
They’ve played some thrillers the last two seasons, and this could be another one, but expect the Bulls to send the Hawks to an early summer vacation Wednesday.
The Bulls gave the Knicks all they could handle before falling in overtime. Next up is Atlanta and the play-in game as DeMar DeRozan & Co. hope to finally find that signature moment this season.
Ayo Dosunmu (quad) has done a number on Atlanta’s Trae Young this season, and Andre Drummond (left ankle) has played some of his best basketball against the Hawks. Both could miss Wednesday’s play-in game.
While the No. 9 team in the Eastern Conference hosting the No. 10 team feels pretty meaningless in the scope of the postseason, the Bulls and Hawks are on the cusp of doing what they can to move big-money contracts this summer.
Coach Billy Donovan used the game to rest DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso. That meant an opportunity for rookie Adama Sanogo and veteran Jevon Carter to shine.
Locked into the No. 9 spot and set for a home play-in game against the Hawks, Billy Donovan used Friday’s game against the Wizards to rest his core three.
The Bulls didn’t mess around against Detroit like they had in two previous games. They beat the lowly Pistons 127-105 and locked in a home play-in game against the Hawks next week.