2 min read • January 13, 2022
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Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. left Wednesday night's game versus the Nets only 36 seconds in after suffering a worrisome right knee injury.
After reviewing initial video, our team of ProBasketballDocs are concerned about the potential of a torn ACL for the 24-year-old. He will have an MRI to rule out that potential reality, and at best he will be out for an extended period with a serious bone bruise.
The slender and high-flying forward hyperextended his knee after he was blocked by Kevin Durant while attempting to drive on a fast break. Jones would immediately go to the floor grabbing his knee, and had to be helped into the locker room as he could not put significant weight on his leg.
Jones previously missed 8 straight games and 9 of 11 in late Jan. and Feb. 2019 after enduring a similarly ugly-looking right knee injury that turned out be only bone bruises. He was expected to be out at least 6 weeks, but returned after only 3 weeks and 4 days and played out the season with no complications.
The Bulls, 1st in the East at 27-11, are already without a handful of other key rotation wings, including Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso, and Javonte Green, putting even more on the shoulders of DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine.
Caruso is in health and safety protocols, Green will be out for 2-4 with a groin strain, and Williams is rehabbing after undergoing thumb surgery to repair torn ligaments in late October.
Alfonso McKinnie, who was brought in early last month during the rush of COVID-19 absences, is likely to be the next man up for Chicago, who has won 9 of its last 10 games.
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