PORTLAND — Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan will miss Friday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers as he continues to struggle with a right quadriceps injury.
DeRozan has been bothered by the injury since mid-December, playing through it for 10 games before exiting the Jan. 11 matchup against the Boston Celtics. He appeared to return to full speed only to exit against the Orlando Magic on Feb. 13 and miss the final two games before the All-Star break.
Despite insisting upon his return that he was back to 100%, DeRozan requested to leave Wednesday’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers only minutes into the third quarter. DeRozan’s production has dipped in February as he dealt with the injury — logging 6.7 fewer points per game compared with his season average — but appeared to level out in March.
The description of DeRozan’s injury has been somewhat ambiguous over the last four months, ranging from a bruised knee to a Grade 1 thigh strain. In February, DeRozan said he had “never felt nothing like this” and felt confused by the source of the pain — or a possible solution.
DeRozan declined to speak with media after Wednesday’s game and following shootaround Friday in Portland. He originally was listed as questionable for the game.
After DeRozan exited the Wednesday game, coach Billy Donovan said he didn’t expect the star forward to miss “any length of time.” But with only 10 games left in the season entering Friday — and a dramatic final push necessary to hold a spot in the play-in tournament — every game without DeRozan will feel significant.
“I’m always concerned because he’s been dealing with it,” Donovan said. “Most guys are not totally healthy this time of year but they’re on the court and able to work through it. I think for Alex (Caruso) and DeMar, they’re at a place where they physically can’t perform where they want to or need to for us.”
