Bulls PF Markkanen expected to make season debut vs. Rockets

Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen was upgraded to probable and is expected to make his season debut against the host Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

Markkanen has missed the team's first 23 games due to a sprained right elbow suffered on Sept. 27.

Markkanen took part in Friday's mid-day shootaround before the club's game against the Detroit Pistons, and coach Fred Hoiberg liked what he saw.

"Lauri feels great," Hoiberg told reporters on Friday. "We're getting there. We're getting closer and we're still taking it day by day, but the important thing now is he's doing a little more each day with the contact. We had a good hard practice (Thursday), and he responded very well to it."

The Bulls certainly could use the 21-year-old. They are 5-18 in his absence and have lost a season-worst five straight games and nine of their past 10.

Markkanen averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 68 games last season as a rookie. He was the seventh overall selection out of Arizona.

--Field Level Media

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