Bulls' Zach LaVine returns to lineup Friday on minutes watch

Zach LaVine is back with the Chicago Bulls and available to play Friday for the first time since Nov. 28.

The Bulls went 10-7 without LaVine after a 5-14 start. A sore right foot sent LaVine to the sideline and coincided with simmering reports the Bulls were shopping the two-time All-Star guard with a goal of trading him before the deadline in February.

No trade market developed, leaving the Bulls to massage the situation off the court and look for ways to work LaVine into the flow of a more sharing-focused offense that emerged in his absence.

"They caught a great rhythm in December, doing the same things we were working on in training camp," LaVine said at shootaround. "It was great to see it actually start clicking. Run, play hard, take open shots and try to create for others is the main thing I've been looking at."

Center Nikola Vucevic, sidelined for five games with a groin injury, is also available Friday for the Bulls against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

LaVine and Vucevic will both be on a minutes restriction initially.

LaVine said he's feeling healthy and focused only on helping the Bulls win.

"There's nothing different that we've been doing other than guys got in a rhythm, understood their roles and obviously started making shots. When you win, everything gets better and you play better. I'm coming in and trying to fit in and do the same thing I was doing, just at a higher level," he said.

LaVine, 28, is averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 18 starts this season.

—Field Level Media