Flu benches Bulls’ Hinrich for game vs. Warriors
OAKLAND — The Bulls were taking the decision to game time, but team officials made it clear that flu-ridden guard Kirk Hinrich will not play in Monday’s matinee against Golden State.
“He’s not feeling well,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “It doesn’t look real good.”
Del Negro confirmed John Salmons would start in Hinrich’s place. The illness could be spreading on the front end of a season-high, seven-game trip.
Luol Deng said he isn’t feeling well but the forward will play.
Golden State has been decimated by injuries and only is dressing eight players, three of them from the NBA’s Development League. But a case can be made that losing Hinrich for this game is a worst-case scenario for the Bulls.
They are 8-3 with Hinrich as a starter. Hinrich defended guard Monta Ellis well in the teams’ first meeting, which the Bulls won in overtime. And Golden State leads the league in fast-break points, and the Bulls consider Hinrich their best defender.
Photo: Kirk Hinrich does a ball trick during a break in the Bulls’ game vs. Washington last Friday. (David Pierini/AP)
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