Patrick Williams ruled out vs. Rockets with hip contusion originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Bulls forward Patrick Williams has been ruled out of Monday's game against the Houston Rockets with a right hip contusion. Head coach Billy Donovan said he suffered the injury in Sunday's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
"He felt OK [Monday] morning. I think he’s experiencing some tightness and stiffness there," Donovan said before the Rockets contest while terming Williams a gametime decision.
Donovan added that Williams would warm up, but evidently he and the team didn't feel good about the rookie's ability to go.
It's the first absence of Williams' young NBA career after starting all 13 regular-season games of the 2020-21 season. In those contests, the 19-year-old averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds with gaudy 48.5-50-87 shooting splits -- albeit on low volume.
Garrett Temple, who has averaged 26.2 minutes per game across 12 appearances (11 reserve, one start), will start in Williams' place. The veteran enters the night averaging 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists while providing solid perimeter defense and 43.1 percent 3-point shooting (4.3 attempts).
Otto Porter Jr. is also out with a lower back strain. Donovan said before tip that Porter hasn't experienced a flare up and is healthy, but that the team was resting him out of an abundance of caution, given that the Rockets game marks the second leg of a back-to-back for the Bulls.
Click here to subscribe to the Bulls Talk Podcast for free.
