Navigating life without injured starters Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic and key reserve Torrey Craig could be catching up with the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have lost three of five without Vucevic (groin) entering Friday’s visit from the Charlotte Hornets and have been treading water with LaVine sidelined with right foot inflammation since late November.
Reflecting on the Bulls’ latest defeat, Wednesday’s 116-100 road loss to the New York Knicks, leading scorer DeMar DeRozan acknowledged the absences are taking a toll.
LaVine may return against the Hornets, with the team anticipating to see Vucevic again soon after.
While DeRozan (28 points), Coby White (26) and Andre Drummond (13 points, 16 rebounds) helped Chicago stay afloat Wednesday, the team’s compromised depth was evident during an 0-2 road trip that started with Tuesday’s 13-point loss at Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, New York outscored Chicago by 26 after Alex Caruso drilled a trey to give the Bulls a 54-44 lead late in the second quarter.
Charlotte, meanwhile, relied on Terry Rozier throughout Tuesday’s 111-104 victory at Sacramento, although coach Steve Clifford said the guard was “just incredible” in the fourth quarter.
Rozier, who missed the previous game due to illness, scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth as the Hornets stopped an 11-game losing streak.
Charlotte ended the game on a 10-0 run, with Miles Bridges (27 points) and P.J. Washington (17) complementing Rozier.
The Hornets regrouped from Monday’s 18-point loss in Denver and will seek to earn successive victories for the first time since Nov. 20-22.
Friday marks the end of a season-high six game road trip for the Hornets, who are set to host the Bulls Monday.
Fueled by 29 points from DeRozan, Chicago topped visiting Charlotte 111-100 Dec. 6 for its third straight victory in the series.
Drummond has three double-doubles in his past five games against the Hornets.
