An MRI performed Sunday at Rush University Medical Center confirmed there is no structural damage to Ben Wallace’s sprained left knee.
Though several team officials continue to insist the injury doesn’t appear serious, the Bulls also refused to release a timetable for Wallace’s return.
“We’re very happy that Ben’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious,” athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi said in a statement. “We hope to know more in regard to his return to the court in the next couple of days.”
Wallace suffered the injury with 5 minutes 1 second remaining in Saturday’s victory over Miami when Heat forward Udonis Haslem’s head struck his knee. Tedeschi said Wallace suffered a hyperextension.
Wallace had to be carried from the court and left the United Center on a golf cart with crutches by his side. He told at least one confidant he wouldn’t be surprised to be sidelined.
The Bulls begin their second seven-game trip of the season Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Seven games over .500 for the second time this season, they have nine games remaining until the All-Star break.
Lakers forward Lamar Odom recently missed 21 games over six weeks with a moderate sprain of his right medial collateral ligament.
Coach Scott Skiles said Wallace’s injury appeared to be a “minor” hyperextension. Tedeschi added Wallace has no history of ligament problems.
Wallace, 32, does have a history of playing through pain and rarely missing games. Over the previous 7 1/2 seasons, he has missed just 25 games, including two earlier this month. That streak of durability includes 93 playoff games with the Pistons.
The Bulls beat the Grizzlies and the Spurs at home without Wallace, who sat with what the team called a strained lower back. Wallace added he also had a pinched nerve in his neck.
Save for a dominant, six-game stretch in mid-December, Wallace has looked as energized and active as he has all season in averaging 16 rebounds and four blocks in consecutive wins over the Mavericks and the Heat.
It’s clear the Bulls are a better team when Wallace resembles the player who won rebounding titles and four Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Pistons.
“Losing him would take away from our defense and rebounding,” guard Ben Gordon said. “Guys would really have to step up.”
The Bulls used smaller lineups in those victories over the Grizzlies and the Spurs, and resembled, especially in defensive intensity and activity, the scrappy bunches from the last two playoff seasons.
The team also has survived stretches where Wallace has appeared less interested, been ineffective or benched in fourth quarters as Skiles used smaller, more offensive-minded lineups.
Whether they could continue to make strides defensively if Wallace is lost for an extended period is a tall task. The Bulls are confident their improved defense–they now rank second in opponents’ field-goal percentage–will help them avoid a repeat of the seven-game trip in November, when they lost six of seven.
“We’re playing better defense now,” forward Luol Deng said. “Everyone can see that. If we focus on our defense, that gets us going offensively and gets us easier baskets on the break. Defense wins us games.”
It had better be for the Bulls to have a successful trip. Not only do the Bulls conclude their journey against the high-flying Suns on Feb. 11, they also face the Warriors and the Jazz. As of Sunday, the Suns ranked first, the Warriors third and the Jazz sixth in scoring.
The Bulls are just 6-13 away from the United Center.
“Our road record is unacceptable,” Skiles said. “And we need to be better because this is a big stretch for us. Right before the break and right after the break is the time some teams make up ground and some teams lose ground because guys are looking to the break or coming out of it sleepy-eyed.”
Skiles is confident good things can happen.
“We’re having moments now where we’re having chances to panic, which we’ve done in some games,” he said. “But we’re not panicking now. We’re starting to settle down and play smart basketball.”
If Wallace were sidelined, P.J. Brown would slide over to start at center and rookie Tyrus Thomas most likely would start at power forward. Skiles likes balancing Gordon’s scoring ability in the starting lineup by bringing Andres Nocioni off the bench.
Thomas played well in his two starts, including an eight-point, eight-rebound and five-block jaw-dropper against the Spurs.
“If Ben’s out, we’d all have to step up,” guard Kirk Hinrich said. “I think we could be OK, but I also know I’d rather not find out.”
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
