NBA Notes: Bulls, Isaac Okoro, Pacers, Aaron Nesmith, Bucks

Bulls

For Chicago, there’s at least a little light on the injury front.

Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith and Kevin Huerter were all able to get on the floor for light work before Sunday’s game, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Bulls are 1–7 without Okoro, and coach Billy Donovan admitted they badly miss their best perimeter defender.

“He has made progress and has felt better, but he still feels it there,” Donovan said. “Some of those symptoms have subsided, but the hardest part for me is the ramp-up. Even if they’re feeling really good, I don’t know if the medical guys are going to say, ‘OK, you’re fine,’ and throw them right back into a game.”

Basically, Chicago remains cautious as the losses pile up.

Pacers

Pacers starter Aaron Nesmith has been out since November 13 with a left MCL sprain, and there’s no end date in sight.

“There’s no timetable,” coach Rick Carlisle said, via Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “It’s gonna be a while… time will tell.”

There is better news elsewhere. Quenton Jackson could return later this week from a hamstring strain, and second-rounder Kam Jones is ramping up after a back issue. His first action is expected to come with the G League’s Noblesville Boom.

Up front, Carlisle continues to lean on a center-by-committee approach built around Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson and Tony Bradley. The Pacers were forced to improvise after Myles Turner left in free agency, and Carlisle says the trio has stabilized the position.

“Doesn’t matter who starts,” he said. “It’s a tag-team thing.”

Bucks

Coach Doc Rivers gave his team two full days off after a back-to-back, and the Bucks will follow that rest with two hard practice days before Thursday’s matchup with Boston, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports.

Forward Kyle Kuzma didn’t hide the stakes. “I think it’s a very pivotal time for us,” he said. “It’s sink or swim. We have to treat it like that.”