Chicago Bulls defensive guard Alex Caruso is still expected to play against the Miami Heat after picking up an injury in the play-in tournament, which is good news.
After beating the Atlanta Hawks 131-116 in the first playoff game, the Chicago Bulls earned themselves a chance to make the playoffs through the NBA play-offs.
The Bulls, who originally finished their season as the No. 9 seed in the East, will now battle the Miami Heat for the No. 8 seed and face the Boston Celtics with 64 wins in the first round.
However, the injury situation for both teams continues to deteriorate.
The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler due to an MCL injury, while Bulls defensive guard Alex Caruso left the court early with a sprained ankle in their previous game with the Hawks.
Caruso was injured after a collision with Andre Drummond, who didn't notice he was near the half-court line. Caruso immediately fell to the ground, grabbed his ankle and felt pain, before heading to the Bulls' bench.
The 30-year-old guard played just 13 minutes on the court, finishing with three points and one rebound. But fans who are familiar with Caruso know that his value is far from being reflected in the numbers.
When Caruso is on the floor, the Bulls' perimeter defense is secure, and the opponent's offense is at risk of being interrupted at any moment.
Not to mention anything else, if the Lakers have space this summer, it is better to sign Caruso back to Los Angeles as soon as possible, such a player is really fragrant, a representative of low salary and high energy.
While Caruso left the game early in the play-in game against the Hawks, he looks poised to play in a game that could be a big win or loss for the Bulls.
I feel that in the dark, God wants to arrange for the Bulls to play the Celtics in the first round, and it will be the Black Eight Miracle, after all, Caruso is very good at dealing with the Celtics.
In fact, according to ESPN's Jemal Collier, Caruso told reporters Friday morning that he was looking forward to playing in the No. 8 seed play-off against Miami.
The Bulls' comeback will be crucial for them in their game against the Heat, and considering the Heat are no longer without Butler and Terry Rozier, their offense will be more focused on Tyler Herro.
Caruso and his excellent defensive prowess will be crucial to the success of the Bulls, especially as he will be the team's main defender in this game.
With Caruso's health, the Bulls' chances of advancing to the playoffs are sure to increase.
The Heat have always been known for their depth and resilience, no matter who gets hurt.
However, this time the Heat team was injured by the team's top superstar Jimmy Butler, which is not trivial.
This season, Miami has had to contend with new roster changes due to injury, and that theme has carried over into the play-offs.
On the other hand, having Caruso on the Bulls will allow them to dominate this game against the Heat.
When Caruso puts in the effort on the defensive end, the Bulls' offense should stay hot. DeMar DeRozan, Koby White and Iyo Dosum combined for 83 points against the Hawks, and the Bulls have scored at least 120 points in their last four games.
The Bulls are confident about this eighth-seeded playoff clash with the Heat, which is why Caruso's return to the roster could be key to their return to the playoffs.
Bottom line: The Bulls are on the verge of qualifying.