Bulls’ Coby White Sits Out as Cavs Aim for Top Playoff Seed

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Coby White, the Chicago Bulls‘ star guard, will not play in Tuesday’s road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers as he rests ahead of crucial postseason matches. The decision comes as the Bulls (36-42) attempt to solidify a playoff spot while the Cavaliers (62-16) are poised to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

White, 25, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in March and had shown an impressive performance to start April, scoring 37 points in a recent 131-117 win against the Sacramento Kings. During his past three games, he averaged 32.0 points, shooting 31-of-48 from the floor, including 11-of-21 from beyond the arc.

“This is a pivotal stretch for us as we aim to secure our place in the playoffs,” White expressed before the decision to rest was announced. Currently, the Bulls are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, and they face the 10th-place Western Conference team on Wednesday at home.

Meanwhile, with an eye on postseason performance, the Cavaliers will also be without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who is sidelined due to a left ankle sprain suffered in a game against the Kings on Sunday. Mitchell, 28, is averaging a team-leading 24.0 points this season and was pivotal in previous matchups. He finished that game with 19 points, despite injury concerns.

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson commented on Mitchell’s status, noting the injury was deemed “mild.” Atkinson hinted that if the team secures the No. 1 seed on Tuesday, they might consider resting players for the remaining games of the regular season.

“I think we’ve got to read this, right? What happens tonight depends a lot on what happens going forward,” Atkinson stated during his pregame press briefing. The Cavaliers need a victory against the Bulls or a loss from the Philadelphia 76ers to secure the top playoff seeding.

While the Bulls grapple with numerous injuries, including the sidelining of guards Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball, the Cavaliers are still positioned favorably within the standings. The Bulls will have to navigate their next games without key players like Kevin Huerter and Nikola Vucevic, increasing the weight on their remaining roster during this critical playoff push.