Lonzo Ball has 5 points for Bulls in first game since 2022

NEW ORLEANS — When Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball checked in on Wednesday in the first quarter, his first regular-season game in more than two years, he did so without much fanfare.

He had an emotional return in the preseason – when he played in an NBA game for the first time after a cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 – and his teammates gave him the game ball and celebrated in the locker room.

But against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, he officially played in his first regular season game since Jan. 14, 2022, recording 5 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes in a 123-111 loss to Chicago.

Ball then downplayed the significance of this latest milestone.

“To be honest, it felt pretty similar to the preseason games,” Ball said. “The same shots were there. The same minutes were there. It was just about making the most of the time I was spending out there.”

According to coach Billy Donovan, the Bulls plan to take Ball off the bench and limit his minutes to 14 to 16 per game, at least for the foreseeable future. On Wednesday, Ball came off the bench for the first time since December 20, 2019.

“He was able to understand that this was my new norm,” Donovan said before the game. “This is my reality.”

But Ball said his most important contribution was simply availability.

He appeared in three short appearances against the Pelicans, including throwing his first shot of the game, a 3-pointer, in the first quarter. He was used for a long time in the second quarter and played seven minutes. His last appearance came in the third period when he was limited to about three minutes before reaching his limit for the night.

Donovan said he saved a few minutes for Ball in case things got close in the fourth, but there was never a situation where he could step in again.

“I always want to be out there,” Ball said. “But I have to listen to the staff and my team and try to find the best path forward.”

Ball called his two preseason appearances a “trial run” leading up to the regular season, but he was excited to put the talk about his left knee behind him and focus on basketball. He has undergone three arthroscopic knee surgeries since his last game more than 1,000 days ago.

Ball acknowledged that playing with a short minutes limit was an adjustment, but he tried to find ways to stay productive.

“I’m just happy to be on the pitch,” he said. “The coach is calling my name, I’m just trying to give good minutes.”

Ball also isn't expected to play back-to-back games as the Bulls are mindful of his health. Chicago has a game at Milwaukee on Friday before Saturday's home opener, but Donovan said the team will watch how Ball emerges from Wednesday's game before determining whether he is available for this weekend.

“I feel good,” Ball said. “We would probably feel a little better if we won, but it's all good. On to the next one.”

Chicago gave up 30 points on turnovers on Wednesday night, which was the most points allowed since the start of last season.

“We got a little quicker,” said Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who finished with 27 points but also seven turnovers, his most in a game since December 2022. “Of course we try to play the right way, but we did “also done.” a lot of turnovers and just not enough stops.”