Lonzo Ball will play in front of Chicago Bulls fans for the first time since January 2022 as the team faces the Oklahoma City Thunder in their home opener on Saturday night. After undergoing three knee surgeries, Ball was rested in the Bulls’ 133-122 win against Milwaukee on Friday.
Coby White led Chicago with 35 points in that game, following their season-opening loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Ball made his comeback with five points and four assists in 14 minutes off the bench against New Orleans, marking his first NBA game in 1,013 days.
Saturday’s game will also be notable for the offseason trade that sent Josh Giddey to Chicago and Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City. Giddey has showcased his versatility in the Bulls’ first two road games, while Caruso made an impact defensively in the Thunder’s win against Denver.
Giddey and Caruso have faced each other before, with Giddey having the edge in their matchups last season. The Thunder, boosted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, will challenge a Bulls team looking to improve from their previous encounters.
The Thunder last won against Chicago in February 2022, the same month Ball injured his knee. Chicago hopes to break their losing streak against Oklahoma City with Ball back on the court.
