Michael Carter-Williams Ruled Out vs. Cavaliers with Knee Injury

Chicago Bulls point guard Michael Carter-Williams is dealing with patellar tendinitis that will sideline him for Saturday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN.com's Nick Friedell.  

The 25-year-old has been injured throughout his first season with the Bulls, and he missed a big chunk of time after he was diagnosed with a sprained left wrist and a bone bruise in his left knee following Chicago's game against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 31. 

However, Carter-Williams returned to the floor Dec. 26 and slid back into the rotation at point guard.

Now 27 appearances into an injury-riddled campaign, Carter-Williams is averaging a career-low 8.1 points, 2.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field.

With Carter-Williams banged up again, head coach Fred Hoiberg will have to tinker with his backcourt rotation just a bit. 

For now, Jerian Grant, Rajon Rondo and Cameron Payne—who was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline—project as Chicago's primary ball-handlers and distributors with Carter-Williams on the shelf.