Bulls' Mirotic out until after All-Star break due to appendix surgery
The Chicago Bulls announced Wednesday that forward Nikola Mirotic will be out of action until after the All-Star break with acute appendicitis.
Mirotic underwent an appendectomy Wednesday. Appendicitis can be quite serious and even deadly if undetected, with appendectomies generally occurring on an emergency basis.
The 24-year-old power forward has started 31 of 44 games this season, averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds. The Bulls entered the campaign with such a glut of traditional big men that Mirotic has seen time at the three. He's only shooting 38.6 percent from the floor, with a more respectable 35.4-percent mark from deep.
Now with both him and Joakim Noah on the shelf, Bobby Portis figures to be the beneficiary in terms of floor time. The rookie from Arkansas is averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per contest.
The procedure will also take Mirotic off the Rising Stars Challenge roster at All-Star weekend in Toronto, which was just announced Wednesday.
The Bulls have lost seven of 10 games going into Thursday's matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.