Chicago, IL – Guard Kirk Hinrich will miss Thursday's Game 6 of the Chicago Bulls' Eastern Conference quarterfinals series against the Brooklyn Nets due to a left calf injury that kept him out of the teams' most recent meeting as well.
In addition, starting forward Luol Deng will miss the game due to an illness, though key reserve Taj Gibson will play through his flu-like symptoms. Neither player participated in Wednesday's practice.
Hinrich also sat out Monday's Game 5, a 110-91 Nets' win that cut Chicago's series lead to 3-2. Nate Robinson, who's averaged 17.8 points and 3.4 assists thus far in the playoffs, is expected to draw the start at point guard once again.
Deng led Chicago in scoring (16.5 ppg) during the regular season and has averaged 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds over the five postseason meetings with the Nets. Gibson has averaged 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in the playoffs as part of the team's frontcourt rotation.
Bulls center Joakim Noah has been battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot for more than a month, but the All-Star has played in all five matchups of the series and averaged 8.4 points and 8.0 rebounds in 26.6 minutes of playing time per game.
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