Chicago, IL – Guard Kirk Hinrich will likely 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 and key reserve Taj Gibson are considered game-time decisions for Thursday's contest. Both are battling an illness and did not participate 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.
If Gibson can't go, the Bulls may be forced to give center Joakim Noah a more increased role. The 2013 All-Star has been battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot for more than a month, but 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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