Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. will miss 2-4 weeks after an MRI revealed significant bruising to the bones in his right knee, the team announced Thursday.
Jones Jr. hyperextended his knee during Wednesday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets after awkwardly landing on his leg in 36 seconds into the game. He struggled to walk after the fall and had to be helped to the locker room.
While an MRI did not reveal any ligament damage, the Bulls will lose Jones Jr., who had lost the title for the past six games, to a prolonged absence.
Chicago’s depth has been reduced by injuries of late with Jones Jr. joining Alex Caruso (health and safety protocols), Javonte Green (groin) and Tyler Cook (ankle) on the injury report.
“Everyone had to step up and take on a bigger challenge defensively,” Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan said after Wednesday’s game. “Understand and help each other and use our intelligence at the same time.”
To help bolster their bench, the Bulls signed forward Malcolm Hill to a 10-day contract Thursday, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hill recently appeared in three games with the Atlanta Hawks during a 10-day contract, including a 13-point, 3-steal performance against the Bulls on December 29.
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