Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine 'likely to be out' Tuesday vs. Bucks
A five-year postseason drought is about to end for the Chicago Bulls, as the top-10 finishers in the Eastern Conference have been determined. In the final days of the regular season though, the standings and seeding scenarios are still in serious disarray.
With a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks or a loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, Chicago will clinch a top-six seed and, therefore, avoid the play-in tournament. However, the Bulls will probably take on the Bucks without second-leading scorer Zach LaVine.
The Bulls have struggled over the second half of the season. They have gone just 19-23 since a victory over the Washington Wizards put them at 26-10 on Jan. 9. Perhaps uncoincidentally, starting point guard Lonzo Ball has been out since mid-January due to a meniscus tear, though it was reported last week that the former No. 2 overall pick was "ramping up for a possible postseason return."
An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, LaVine is currently second on the team in points (24.7) and minutes per game (34.9), third in assists per contest (4.5), and has posted a .477/.393/.851 shooting line.
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