Chicago Bulls rookie center Wendell Carter Jr. won’t play on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, but the youngster did get some good news from the team’s medical staff.
Carter, who revealed the injury after the Bulls’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, is dealing with a sprained left thumb, according to head coach Jim Boylen, but avoided another injury as his knee is improving.
“My heart would be broken for him if he’s out for some time,” Boylen said. “That’s the first thing I think about because it’s your life and a big part of who you are. To be away from it is difficult.”
Getty Images
Anthony Rizzo #44; Javier Baez #9 and Kris Bryant #17 celebrate after Baez scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Reds 7-6. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Albert Almora Jr. #5 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates following a fifth inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on September 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Adbert Alzolay #73 poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Adbert Alzolay
NBC 5 News
Javier Baez celebrando tras empujar la carrera del empate.
Getty Images
David Bote #13 of the Chicago Cubs throws to first base against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Wrigley Field on September 15, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 1-0. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Wrigley Field on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Victor Caratini #20 of the Chicago Cubs collects his first Major League hit, a double in the 5th inning, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on July 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 03: Steve Cishek #41 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on June 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NBC 7
Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 7: Yu Darvish #11 of the Chicago Cubs walks off the field after a 5-0 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 7, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Taylor Davis #43 of the Chicago Cubs poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Davis
Getty Images
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Daniel Descalso #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 29, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Steve Yeater/AP
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 11: Brian Duensing #32 of the Chicago Cubs commits an error throwing to first base in the ninth inning during game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on October 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Carl Edwards Jr. #6 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the eighth inning during game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on October 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Shutterstock
MLB rumors: Kendall Graveman, A's 2018 Opening Day starter, signs with Cubs
Getty Images
Cole Hamels #35 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 1, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Ian Happ
Nuevo Aeropuerto MX
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Chicago.
Getty Images
Jason Heyward #22 of the Chicago Cubs fouls off a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 21, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Cub 2-1. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Brandon Kintzler #20 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning of game one of a doubleheader at Nationals Park on September 8, 2018 in Washington, DC.
MLB Photos via Getty Images
MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Dillon Maples #36 of the Chicago Cubs poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dillon Maples
MLB Photos via Getty Images
MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Alec Mills #24 of the Chicago Cubs poses during Photo Day on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alec Mills
Getty Images
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 19: Mike Montgomery #38 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 19, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Jose Quintana #62 of the Chicago Cubs looks on while in the dugout during the fifth inning of their game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on September 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 05: Randy Rosario #47 of the Chicago Cubs pithces against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on August 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Padres defeated the Cubs 10-6. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Danna Dykstra Coy/WINTERFEST
Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after scoring a run in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field on May 12, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
Nike
Relief pitcher Pedro Strop #46 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the MLB game at Chase Field on August 11, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks 8-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Ben Zobrist #18 of the Chicago Cubs gets a base hit single during the eighth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Carter said that his thumb swelled up after the game, but called himself “day-to-day” with the injury.
The Bulls and Nuggets will square off on Thursday night in Denver as the team wraps up a road trip. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
