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The Chicago Bulls will be shorthanded when they host the New York Knicks Sunday night after guard Anfernee Simons was ruled out with a wrist injury. Simons exited Saturday’s game in Detroit in the first half and did not return, leaving coach and fans to weigh lineup and rotation changes as the team chases a return to form.
Simons sidelined: injury details and immediate impact
Anfernee Simons suffered a left wrist sprain during the first half of the Bulls’ loss to the Pistons. He did not return to that game and is ruled out for the matchup with the Knicks.
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The absence arrives at a tense moment. Chicago is riding an eight-game losing streak and sits 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are two games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in berth.
Simons joined the Bulls in a trade with the Boston Celtics that sent veteran Nikola Vucevic to Boston. The Celtics also included a second-round pick in the deal.
In Chicago, Simons has appeared in six games, starting five. His averages since the trade are:
- 15.2 points per game
- 2.8 rebounds per game
- 3.0 assists per game
- 43.8% FG, 32.0% 3PT, 100% FT
- About 28 minutes per game
How the Bulls might adjust the rotation against New York
With Simons unavailable, Chicago will likely mix its wing depth and guard minutes. Expect more playing time for bench guards and secondary ball handlers.
- Increased minutes for existing guards and wing players.
- More ball distribution duty for primary creators.
- Lineup tweaks to cover perimeter shooting and defensive assignments.
Short-term, the Bulls must fill scoring and creation gaps while trying to halt their losing streak.
Updated Bulls injury ledger
- Zach Collins — out (right toe sprain)
- Noa Essengue — out (recovering from left shoulder surgery)
- Jaden Ivey — out (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)
- Nick Richards — questionable (right foot soreness)
- Anfernee Simons — out (left wrist sprain)
- Patrick Williams — probable (left hand contusion)
Knicks availability notes ahead of the game
- Pacome Dadiet — out (assigned to G League)
- Miles McBride — out (pelvic core muscle surgery)
- Kevin McCullar Jr. — out (G League two-way)
- Mitchell Robinson — out (managing left ankle injury)
