NBA Rumors: Lonzo Ball 'Targeting' Return from Wrist Injury for Bulls vs. Magic

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is "targeting" Wednesday's road game against the Orlando Magic for his return from a wrist injury, ESPN's Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne reported.

Ball has not played since spraining his wrist during an Oct. 28 game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Bulls guard made his comeback earlier this season from two and a half NBA seasons missed due to knee injuries.

Ball had recorded 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while averaging under 16 minutes in three games prior to his wrist sprain.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Saturday had been Ball's "best day" at practice since suffering the wrist injury, per Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson.

Donovan followed that up by announcing on Monday that Ball would travel with the Bulls on this week's two-game road trip, which takes them to meet the Washington Wizards on Tuesday followed by the Wednesday game against the Magic, per Johnson.

Ball suffered a right wrist sprain after catching himself on the court after attempted steal, ESPN's Jamal Collier reported.

The guard did not leave the game with the injury, but rather taped the wrist "and played through the pain," per Collier. An MRI revealed the injury the next day.

Ball told reporters that playing on the sprain any further risked worsening the injury to the degree that surgery would be required, Collier reported.

The star has undergone multiple procedures on his injured left knee since his last NBA action in January 2022, including cartilage transplant surgery in March 2023. The news that he may be able to return without undergoing further procedures is good news for his hopes of re-establishing himself as a regular part of the Bulls rotation.

The Bulls have meanwhile been unable to establish much consistency this season. The team hasn't won consecutive games since Oct. 30, and heads into the Wizards game having dropped four of six prior contests. Chicago will hope the pending return of Ball will help rejuvenate the lineup as the Bulls look to take advantage of competing in a relatively weak Eastern Conference.

It sounds like the Bulls will still be without Ball tonight as they take on the Wizards in NBA Cup action. The in-season tournament group stage game tips off at 7 p.m. ET.