Missing His Third Straight Game, Here's The Latest On DeRozan's Injury Status

The Chicago Bulls just won their first game in the last 12 matchups against the Golden State Warriors, thanks to a career-best performance from Nikola Vucevic. That marks their third straight game without DeRozan, and all three went as sporadically as the entire season has for Chicago. The first was a nail-biter in which a late three-point make by Kyle Kuzma buried the Bulls 100-97, the second was another "embarrassing" outing similar to the visit to Minnesota a month ago, and the latest was a steady dominance of the reigning NBA Champions. With a 1-2 record in his absence, how soon can they get him back?

First Missed Games This Season

DeMar DeRozan said following the early exit against the Boston Celtics that he takes pride in his durability and has for his entire career. A handful shy of 1,000 career games and averaging 36 minutes per contest at 33 years old would support his claim, and he'd played in every Bulls' game so far this season up to that point.

Two days later, Chicago headed to Washington, where DeRozan was eventually downgraded from questionable, to doubtful, to out before tip-off. He'd repeat that status for the next two games against the Thunder and Warriors. Now six days removed from the initial injury, head coach Billy Donovan is confident it's nothing serious but that the team wants to make sure it does not escalate to that degree.

DeRozan is having another career-resurging season for the Bulls, leading them in points and assists, and leading the entire NBA in fourth-quarter scoring and 'clutch-time' scoring. He's also been the only Chicago Bull seen on any of the first two all-star ballot returns, ranking sixth among Eastern Conference guards. For the first two months of the season, fellow former all-stars Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic were receiving nationwide scrutiny for their poor play, and DeRozan single-handily kept this team afloat.

Who's Picking Up The Slack?

Anyone who has watched the Bulls in the last season and a half knows that DeRozan's impact is irreplaceable. He's been the most exciting and consistent player in the Windy City since Jimmy Butler. With his consistent scoring at efficient rates, the 'King Of The Fourth' title he's earned, an all-star starter a year ago, and a top-five MVP candidate in his first year with the team, there's no denying that no other Bull has scratched his contributions since arriving two summers ago.

Zach Lavine took a long time to find his stride again following off-season knee surgery, but the climax of his play is peaking at a convenient time for the Bulls. The most points in the NBA in the new year and scoring 25 or more for his sixth straight game this afternoon have been crucial to supplementing the irreplaceable DeRozan. In the first two games DeRozan missed, Lavine scored 63 points and averaged 39 minutes per game. In January, he's boasting a near 30/5.5/4.5 points, rebounds, and assists stat line, which ranks among the best in the NBA.

"Big Game Vooch"

This afternoon's win over the Warriors featured a career night from Nikola Vucevic. Dropping a career-high 43 points on 18-of-31 from the field, adding a game-high 13 rebounds and five three-pointers, the day belongs to the big man. Once a two-time all-star, Vucevic has not looked like it since joining the Bulls, and this marks his first 40-point game with the team. Vucevic praised the team and his teammates when speaking on his memorable night.

The Bulls now hop on a plane and head to Paris, where they'll take on the Detroit Pistons in France, presumably without DeRozan yet again. With the next six opponents being around or well underneath the .500 mark, this is a pivotal stretch for a Chicago team that's been in and out of the play-in slot in the standings, currently sitting at 10th in the East.

The most likely scenario is that DeRozan's return will be when Chicago hosts the Atlanta Hawks eight days from now, the overseas trip conveniently meaning that the game in Paris is their only one for the entire week. Either way, Chicago will be itching to get him back out there as they try to re-route a lackluster season into a playoff-bound one, and this upcoming stretch is the perfect opportunity to rally five or more wins in a row.