CHICAGO — De’Aaron Fox, the standout guard for the Sacramento Kings, made his return to the court on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls after dealing with a bruised right glute. Meanwhile, the Bulls were without Coby White due to a neck strain.

Fox, who has been averaging 26.7 points per game this season, had missed the last three games due to his injury. White, on the other hand, averages 18.4 points and 4.7 assists but sustained his injury during the Bulls’ victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday. With White sidelined, Lonzo Ball stepped in to start for the first time since the 2021-22 NBA season.

Ball’s road to recovery has been quite challenging; he had been out for two years due to a left knee injury that necessitated a cartilage and meniscus transplant after numerous other treatment attempts fell short. Complicating matters further, Ball faced a wrist injury that kept him off the floor for almost a month at the beginning of this season. Although he has returned, he is still under a minutes restriction as he continues to regain his form.