Jan. 28--Already hit hard by injuries, the Chicago Bulls suffered another significant blow to their lineup Wednesday when forward Nikola Mirotic was diagnosed with an acute appendicitis and had surgery.
The appendectomy was performed at Rush University Medical Center and according to a Bulls statement "went as expected."
Mirotic did not accompany the team on its trip to Los Angeles where it will kick off a seven-game road trip against the Lakers on Thursday night. Mirotic is expected to return after the All Star break in mid-February.
The 24-year-old Mirotic is averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season.
The Bulls will now be without Mirotic, Joakim Noah (left shoulder) and Kirk Hinrich (thigh contusion) on the trip and the playing statuses of Derrick Rose (hamstring), E'Twaun Moore (hamstring) and Mike Dunleavy (back) are to be determined.
