ConcussedDunn may be out for while
NOTEBOOK
NEW ORLEANS— Point guard Kris Dunn’s concussion symptoms have not cleared.
Coach FredHoiberg said he was still feeling dizzy and groggy Monday in the wake of his spectacular tumble lastWednesday in the Bulls’ loss to the Warriors.
“It’s always concerning when you’re dealing with a concussion,’’ Hoiberg said. “Really no change in symptoms. We’ve texted every day, checked in with him a couple of times. Yeah, he’s still having trouble with the headaches and the overall groggy feeling, which I’ve had after a couple of concussions. It’s no fun, and they’re all different in the way you’re able to come back from them. But as of right now, he hasn’t had much change in theway he’s feeling.’’
The Pelicans game was the second one Dunn has missed, and he has been all but ruled out of the gameWednesday in Philadelphia.
The Bulls have two home dates after the 76ers game, so it will be interesting to see if Dunn is closer to recovering by then. If not, his availability for a three- city trip to Portland, Los Angeles and Sacramento would be in jeopardy.
Hoiberg wouldn’t speculate on a return date for Dunn and reiterated that he was surprised there wasn’t more damage, considering the fall.
In the fourth quarter against theWarriors, Dunn rose for a dunk on a breakaway and was off- balance when he grabbed the rim. The momentum flung him forward, and his face crashed into the United Center floor, taking a chip out of the court.
Two teeth were dislocated, and he started experiencing concussion symptoms the next morning.
“I keep going back to how thankful [ we are that] it’s not a more serious injury just based on the fall,’’ Hoiberg said.
The shame of the fall was the timing, especially with Zach LaVine returning last week and Dunn playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Hoiberg wasn’t worried that Dunn would be less aggressive because of the incident. “No, I’m not concerned at all about his game,’’ Hoiberg said. “It won’t change. He’s still going to attack the rim fearlessly. I don’t have any concern about that.’’
NotKidd- ing around
Hoiberg said that while he realizes the business of basketball can be cruel to coaches, he still was surprised to hear that the Bucks fired Jason Kidd.
“I think Jason does a great job,’’ Hoiberg said. “His teams are always difficult to prepare for. They’re tough- minded, very good defensively. They do a lot of things that really make it hard on you, so, yeah, I was surprised.
‘‘ One thing I know is, he’ll be back in it whenever he wants to do it, but, yeah, a tough day.
“You look at some of the [ coaching changes] that have happened with Memphis and now with Jason, Phoenix earlier in the year, so a lot of things have gone down.’’