Veteran big man Nic Claxton moves closer to making his Bulls debut

Chicago Bulls center Nic Claxton is nearing his debut for the team after completing a full practice on Sunday. Head coach Tiago Splitter confirmed that Claxton, who suffered a hamstring injury prior to training camp, is progressing well. Splitter indicated that Claxton could return during the upcoming four-game stretch, which features a matchup against the New York Knicks followed by three home contests.

Upon his return, Claxton is expected to initially play restricted minutes off the bench to boost the Bulls' rim protection. If Claxton returns to the rotation, Splitter may need to adjust playing time among reserve forwards Leonard Miller and Noa Essengue, as the coach generally favors a 10-man rotation.