The Chicago Bulls’ situation was starting to improve. The Bulls have started to play better as of late, going 8-3 going into their Monday night game against the Boston Celtics to climb into ninth place in the Eastern Conference amid reports of a midseason blowup that may involve a Zach LaVine trade, among other things.
But the Bulls’ impressive recent run was cut short when DeMar DeRozan sustained a non-contact lower-body injury in the third quarter of their 107-99 loss to the Celtics. Al Horford was isolated at the top of the key by DeMar DeRozan in the third quarter, when the Bulls were down by just four points, 63-59.
DeRozan was practicing his maneuvers to get to his position and pull up for his well-known mid-range jump shot. He managed a crossover between the legs, but immediately after, he dropped to the floor without even grazing Horford. Despite his best efforts, he eventually had to leave the game due to the injury.
DeRozan down. Looks like he clipped Horford’s foot trying to get to his spot
Came back in after the play but has now gone to the locker room
No word from Bulls PR yet on whether he will return pic.twitter.com/76EddH78kg
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) January 10, 2023
Billy Donovan, the head coach, gave an update on DeRozan’s injuries following the game, saying that while he might have avoided a serious injury that would have ended the season, he still might have had a quad injury that could last.
Read More: Stetson Bennett’s College Career Was Legendary and His Final Performance Was a Highlight!
He felt as though he strained his quad as he fell. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, Donovan claimed, “He felt like he had gotten tripped.”
Billy Donovan on DeMar DeRozan s injury. Donovan mentioned a quad issue. pic.twitter.com/QOxDPdiwPw
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) January 10, 2023
The extent of DeMar DeRozan’s quad injury is yet unknown. DeRozan told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago that the quad strain is “nothing too crazy” and that he would seek medical attention so that he could try to play through it. He continued by saying that his quad problem wasn’t new because he had played despite some kind of pain for the previous eight games.
Read More: Joe Mazzulla’s Delightfully On-Brand Response to Celtics Player Marcus Smart’s $35,000 Fine!
Despite DeRozan’s best efforts, the Bulls may decide to be cautious and suspend him for at least their upcoming game, especially because the quad strain he sustained against the Celtics appears to be a worsening of the quad issue that has been plaguing him for the past few games.
