Chicago forward Torrey Craig collided with a camera on the baseline while going after a rebound during the Bulls’ loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.
“I got a little blood on my elbow, a little blood on my nose. My ankle,” Craig said. “I like games like that.”
With injuries opening up a starting spot for Craig, the physical play is expected to continue for the Bulls, who are hoping the veteran’s energy will have a positive impact. Chicago has lost eight of its last 11 games, heading into Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Craig, who started in place of Patrick Williams, who is expected to miss at least a week due to left foot inflammation, scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Bulls’ 122-106 loss to the Bucks. He tied Nikola Vucevic for the team high in rebounds.
“It’s no secret; you’ve just got to want the ball,” Craig said. “I’m a competitor. The ball’s up, I try to compete for it.”
Craig missed Chicago’s Nov. 9 game against Atlanta due to illness. The Bulls won that game 125-113, with 19 points from Ayo Dosunmu and an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double from Vucevic. Coby White and Zach LaVine also scored 18 points.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said LaVine “carried us” in the game against the Bucks, who finished the game with an 18-4 run. LaVine scored 20 of his 27 points before halftime, shooting 9 of 15 overall, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
“I’ve seen his shot-making; it’s been incredible,” Donovan said. “He has the ability to get on a roll.”
Atlanta is looking to split its four-game road trip, with losses at Portland and Golden State, and a one-point win over Sacramento in between.
The Hawks lost 120-97 to Golden State on Wednesday, scoring just four points more than their season low.
“I didn’t think that we talked enough tonight,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder, whose team shot 33.3 percent from the field, including just 26.7 percent (12 of 45) from three. “And sometimes that happens when you’re not making shots and it’s actually when you need each other, and even more.”
“Regardless of who’s in the game, how long they play, we can run. You can run. You can see that there’s a corner and it’s empty and you can fill it, and you can see where the ball is and you can space, and doing that gives us a chance to get connected.”
Atlanta played with its full lineup against the Warriors. After missing the Sacramento game due to left leg inflammation, Jalen Johnson posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, leading six Hawks players in double-figure scoring.
Trae Young (12 points, 11 assists) and Clint Capela (11 points, 10 rebounds) also had double-doubles.
Friday marks the next round of NBA Cup play. Atlanta is hoping to start 3-0 in East Group C after winning its previous games against Boston and Washington. The Bulls lost their first group game against Cleveland.
Group play will continue on Tuesdays and Fridays until Dec. 3, when an elimination bracket will be determined. The winner of each group and one wild card from each conference will move on to the knockout rounds.
Chicago has won six of its last 10 games against Atlanta.
LaVine has shot 53.6 percent while averaging 25.4 points in his last 10 games against the Hawks.
