SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will be extremely shorthanded when they host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Lauri Markkanen (quad), Walker Kessler (foot), Taylor Hendricks (toe) and Keyonte George (illness) were all ruled out against Chicago.
The Jazz were missing those four players for most of Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards, but still came out on top with a 127-115 victory.
Jazz vs. Several Key Players vs. Bulls
Markkanen, Kessler, Hendricks and George represent four of the Jazz’s top seven rotation players since the trade deadline.
The quartet has averaged more than half of 240 roster minutes over the past 10 games, leaving coach Will Hardy to dig deep into his bench to build his rotation.
Jazz injury report:
*OUT – Keyonte George (Illness)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (left 1st MTP sprain)
OUT – Walker Kessler (sprained right foot)
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (right quadriceps contusion)
OUT – Otto Porter Jr. (Not with the team)
QUESTIONABLE – Micah Potter (G League)… pic.twitter.com/fnFt0rcJfG
-Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 6, 2024
Little-used Luka Samanic played 23 minutes Monday, earning his first start of the season.
Two-way forward Johnny Juzang played 20 minutes in the win, including all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Bulls look to secure .500 road trip
The Bulls arrive in Utah looking to at worst guarantee a 2-2 record on their current four-game road trip in the Western Conference.
Chicago stunned the Sacramento Kings on Monday, overcoming a 21-point second-half deficit to open their road trip with a victory.
Coby White (37 PTS) takes the lead of the Bulls throughout the 4Q!
Bull-Kings | Live on the NBA app
???? https://t.co/OSZYKKWcuM pic.twitter.com/WLn1Mn1osR-NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2024
After facing the Jazz, the Bulls will travel to Golden State to face the Warriors before finishing their road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Bulls are the ninth seed in the East with a 29-32 record.
How to Watch Jazz and Bulls
The Jazz will face the Bulls on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MST in Salt Lake City. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+ and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL sports area.
Are you already on the discussions? Let’s connect, follow us @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL sports area. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
