The Chicago Bulls are about to get some All-Star reinforcements.
On Friday, the team announced that both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will return to action tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.
Both players will be on minutes restriction for their first game back, and will come off of the bench as they ease their way into the line-up.
LaVine has not played since Nov. 28 and missed 17 games for the Bulls with “right foot inflammation.”
“I’m back, man,” said LaVine to reporters on Friday. “I feel good. Being hurt is never good and rehab is one of the worst things in the world, but I’m just glad to come out here.”
In LaVine’s absence, Coby White has stepped up in a big way. White has averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game since LaVine went down with his injury.
Vucevic has been inactive since Dec. 26, after suffering a strained left groin. Originally, head coach Billy Donovan said there was not a timetable on the big man’s return on Wednesday, but Vucevic was upgraded to questionable on Thursday, and has seemingly cleared his injury with his return.
Veteran big-man Andre Drummond has slid into the starting line-up for the injured Vucevic, averaging averaging 14.0 points, 19.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks in his five-game absence.
With the minutes restriction to both LaVine and Vucevic, expect both White and Drummond to start once again on Friday.
