DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Mandatory credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Big and bad news came in the way of year two coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls before receiving a tip-off against superstar Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at home at United Center on the night of December 6. Donovan and the Bulls are set to miss shooting star/forward DeMar DeRozan for this meeting with the Nuggets early this week.
The reason DeRozan misses time for the Bulls is the same reason the likes of shooting guard/striker Javonte Green and point guard Coby White are out this week, with COVID-19 cases. The league’s health and safety protocol will consume a large part of the Bulls’ rotation at least next week.
This is clearly a very important piece of news to drop about the Bulls ahead of a meeting with one of the tougher teams outside of the Western Conference. It also doesn’t help that the Bulls miss points guard Alex Caruso against the Nuggets on the night.
Chicago Bulls now miss DeMar DeRozan vs. Nuggets on December 6
It was just two hours before it was reported between the Bulls and the Nuggets that an injury report came in to show DeRozan would miss this game due to the league’s health and safety protocol.
DeRozan has been big for the Bulls during this three winning streak. He scored no fewer than 28 points on every Bulls singles outing during this winning streak. For these efforts, DeRozan was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
The pre-game spread also moved strongly in favor of the Nuggets after news of DeRozan surfaced. The Bulls were close to four favorites on the morning of December 6. That had now reduced from three points to two before receiving the information that night.
The Bulls are set to come to this meeting with the Nuggets without DeRozan having a record 16-8 after their impressive four-point road win on December 4 over the Brooklyn Nets. The closing date between the Bulls and the Nuggets is set for 7pm Cairo time on December 6 at the United Center.