Bulls’ Zach LaVine to miss 1-2 weeks with sprained ankle
Bulls’ Zach LaVine to miss 1-2 weeks with sprained ankle originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
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With the NBA trade deadline less than three weeks away, Zach LaVine is expected to be sidelined for at least one and possibly two weeks with the sprained right ankle he suffered in Thursday’s victory over the Toronto Raptors.
The team’s public and media relations staff confirmed the latest injury blow for LaVine, who was playing in his seventh game back after missing 17 with right foot inflammation. The Bulls went 10-7 in LaVine’s absence and were 5-2 since his return.
LaVine rolled his right ankle with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the third quarter when he stepped on Jontay Porter’s foot on a drive. LaVine walked gingerly straight to the locker room, throwing a towel in frustration as he left.
LaVine returned at the 5:40 mark of the third quarter but then he checked out after a mere 2:20 stint in the fourth quarter and didn’t finish the game, leaving for good with 7:23 remaining. Afterward, coach Billy Donovan told reporters in Toronto that he didn’t like the way that LaVine was moving and that LaVine confirmed he didn’t feel 100 percent.
LaVine finished with eight points on a season-low seven shots. This continued LaVine’s trend in the seven games since his return from that 17-game absence. LaVine had said he was most focused on defense and setting up teammates. He attempted eight shots in two of his first six games back before Thursday and averaged 11.1 shots—down from the 15 he has averaged overall this season and 18 he averaged last season—in his seven games back.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 8. Even before this latest injury setback, a concrete trade market had yet to materialize for LaVine, who is averaging 19.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers are below last season’s averages of 24.8 points on 48.5 percent shooting, including 37.5 percent from…
