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Chicago Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. would not confirm with 100 percent certainty that he would be back in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the New York Knicks, but that percentage still remains extremely high, at 80-90 percent.
Wendell Carter Jr said there’s about an 80-90 percent chance he plays Saturday against the Knicks. He’ll likely have a minutes restriction when he returns
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) February 27, 2020
Carter's return coincides with the news Thursday that Luke Kornet's foot/ankle injury will keep him out for at least the next 6-8 weeks, likely ending his regular season. With just Daniel Gafford and Cristiano Felicio available at the center slot prior to Carter's potential return, head coach Jim Boylen will surely welcome back the 20-year-old.
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Carter has been out of the mix since Jan. 6 due to an ankle injury. Prior to that, he had started each of the Bulls' first 37 games, averaging 11.7 points and 9.9 rebounds across 30 minutes per contest. After shooting 48.5 percent during his rookie season, Carter has bumped that number up to 53.7 percent this year.
The Bulls' frontcourt has been severely hampered by injuries, with Carter's the most glaring. Lauri Markkanen (ankle), Otto Porter Jr. (foot) and Chandler Hutchison (shoulder) are all still out of the mix, with should indicate how significant of a role Carter will play upon his return. With that in mind, he indicated that if he is able to play against the Knicks, he would be facing a minutes limit.
Carter has suited up for both prior meetings against New York this season and recorded a double-double in each of them. Factoring in last season, Carter has averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds against the Knicks for his career, which should bode well for Chicago as they attempt to make a last-ditch effort at a playoff push with a win Saturday.
