Ilyasova enters COVID-19 health and safety protocols originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Ersan Ilyasova has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, the Chicago Bulls announced via their injury report on Tuesday.
Ilyasova, who inked a 10-day contract with the team last week, joins Lonzo Ball, Alfonzo McKinnie, Tony Bradley and head coach Billy Donovan in protocols. He is the 16th Bulls player to enter protocols this season.
When the Ilyasova sigining was first reported on Dec. 21, the Bulls were preparing to face the Toronto Raptors without the protocol-interned Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr. and Matt Thomas. But when that Raptors game, originally scheduled for Dec. 22, was postponed because of an outbreak within Toronto, the Bulls were able to return those players, lessening the need for Ilyasova and fellow 10-day signee Mac McClung.
Neither logged a minute in the team's recent wins over the Pacers and Hawks. Their 10-days expire before the new year.
The Bulls next play Wednesday at the United Center, again against the Hawks, who continue to deal with COVID-19 troubles of their own. As of Tuesday morning, 13 Hawks players are in protocols, and two (Solomon Hill and De'Andre Hunter) are out due to injury. Bogdan Bogdanović, Gorgui Dieng and Malik Ellison entered protocols the morning after the Bulls' 130-118 victory in Atlanta Monday night; Bogdanović (41) and Dieng (22) each logged significant minutes in that game.
In turn, the Hawks signed Cam Oliver and Chris Clemons to 10-day deals Tuesday morning, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Bulls, meanwhile, listed Derrick Jones Jr. as questionable for Wednesday's game. Jones Jr. has missed the team's last three contests with a hamstring strain suffered in their Dec. 19 win over the Lakers.
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Ball, McKinnie, Bradley and Ilyasova have all already been ruled out for the second Hawks game, as has Alex Caruso, who is scheduled to have the left foot sprain that has kept him out two games and counting re-evaluated this week.
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