Bulls C Nikola Vucevic to miss time with groin strain

Field Level Media|published: Tue 26th December, 19:47 2023

Dec 23, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) shoots a free throw against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at United Center. credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls will be without star center Nikola Vucevic for an undetermined length of time due to a groin strain.

An MRI helped confirm the injury, officially a left adductor contusion, Bulls coach Billy Donovan told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Vucevic was injured in Saturday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers when he hit the ground after being dunked on by Max Strus.

But Vucevic stayed in the game, and Tuesday will mark not only the first game he misses this season, but his first missed game since the regular-season finale of 2021-22. He started all 82 games for Chicago in 2022-23.

"A lot of it is going to be how he responds to rehab," Donovan told reporters. "He obviously was pretty sore after (Saturday's) game and obviously over Christmas."

Vucevic, 33, has averaged 16.7 points and a team-leading 10.4 rebounds per game through 31 games (all starts). He was a two-time All-Star with the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Bulls in March 2021.

—Field Level Media