Alex Caruso Won’t Play Bulls vs. Bucks Game 5 With Concussion; Zach LaVine Likely Out

AP Photo/Morry Gash

The Chicago Bulls are likely to be without guards Alex Caruso and Zach LaVine for Wednesday’s Game 5 matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Caruso was ruled out while he remains in concussion protocol and LaVine is in COVID-19 protocols, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

LaVine, 27, averaged 24.4 points on 47.6 percent shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his fifth season with the Bulls.

Thanks in part to his efforts, combined with those from offseason additions DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls broke a four-year streak outside the playoffs and finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record.

LaVine suited up for 67 regular-season games. He missed time due to entry into the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols, a left knee injury, back spasms, left knee soreness on multiple occasions and rest.

The former UCLA star then entered the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols a second time on Tuesday, per Charania.

Losing LaVine, the team’s second-leading scorer, is a major blow. The Bulls already went through most of the season without point guard Lonzo Ball, who was limited to 35 games after undergoing season-ending left knee surgery.

Ball’s continued absence and Caruso being ruled out will leave Chicago without its two best perimeter defenders. 

That puts a major onus on DeRozan (27.9 PPG) to provide scoring alongside Vucevic (17.6 PPG). 

As far as replacing their court time goes, players such as Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Javonte Green will need to step up.