SAN ANTONIO _ The total is stalled at a mere 14 games. That's how many times Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen have played together.
The haul from the Jimmy Butler trade, the core centerpiece of the Bulls' full rebuild, continued its start-and-stop routine with LaVine missing Saturday's 98-93 victory over the Spurs.
And LaVine's absence is expected to be measured by the week, not the day.
Twelve of those games came last season as LaVine played on a minutes restriction while working his way back from a torn ACL in his left knee. In 255 minutes, the trio posted a minus-21.6 net rating.
Two came earlier this week as Dunn came off the bench while working his way back from a sprained MCL in his right knee. In just 11 minutes together, the threesome posted a minus-25 rating with a gruesome offensive rating of 70.8.
And with Markkanen playing just his seventh game of the season following a serious right elbow injury, LaVine returned to Chicago on Saturday morning to have his left ankle injury further examined. He took his team-leading 23.8-point scoring average with him.
Surprisingly, the Bulls rallied from a 21-point, first-half deficit to improve to 2-5 under Jim Boylen, who replaced Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3.
Boylen said LaVine, who also will miss Monday's game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City at the very least, is limping and in a walking boot after spraining his deltoid ligament in Thursday's loss to the Magic in Mexico City. The Bulls have no official timeline for LaVine's absence.
But there's widespread belief in the organization that LaVine will miss time beyond Monday. Early indications are that he will need to rest the injury for at least a week and possibly two but that surgery isn't required.
"We are going to consult with some other specialists and try to figure out exactly what's going on and create a plan of action," Boylen said. "We're disappointed and sorry that he was hurt. But we're hopeful we can get a good evaluation and get moving toward recovery.
"He's seeing our guys right now. And he's going to see some specialists because we want to get as much information as we can. And then we'll get a diagnosis and start building a rehab schedule."
Limping out of Mexico City Arena late Thursday, LaVine said he "felt something pop" that he thought "was just some fluid or something."
The Bulls didn't leave Mexico City until Friday afternoon and waited to get to San Antonio to perform the MRI. They want their specialists to read the results, which is why LaVine returned to Chicago.
Boylen started Dunn for the first time since he returned from his knee injury. With LaVine out, Ryan Arcidiacono stayed in the lineup alongside Dunn in the backcourt.
Dunn rallied from shooting a memorable air ball from 3-point range that came up several feet short in the first quarter to finish with 24 points, two critical baskets and two free throws in the final 38.8 seconds.
"Just trying to get my rhythm, trying not to do too much too early," Dunn said of his approach coming back from injury. "I'm trying to let the game come to me. But there's going to be a point where once my legs get back under me, I got to be aggressive."
Chandler Hutchison returned from missing one game with a stomach illness, which meant Jabari Parker drew his first "Did Not Play _ Coach's Decision" of the season. Parker, the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder, fell out of Boylen's rotation last game.
LaMarcus Aldridge's 29 points and 12 rebounds led the Spurs, who were up by as many as 21 points in the first half.
The Bulls didn't attempt their first free throws until the 2-minute, 31-second mark of the second quarter and shot a miserable 6 for 29 from 3-point range.
In a more active performance that featured drives and post-ups instead of just perimeter shots, Markkanen finished with 23 points.
