National Basketball Association

Bulls' Dunleavy to miss 18th straight vs. Pelicans

Published Feb. 7, 2015 6:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says small forward and shooting guard Mike Dunleavy has decided he's not yet ready to return from a right ankle injury against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.

Thibodeau says he thought Dunleavy was set to return after the Bulls held their shootaround Saturday morning in New Orleans, but the coach says Dunleavy told him otherwise in the hours leading up to tip-off.

Dunleavy injured his ankle Jan. 1 and his decision to sit out means he'll miss his 18th straight game.

Dunleavy has played in 33 games this season, averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 29.5 minutes.

The Bulls went 23-10 with Dunleavy in the lineup and have lost 10 of the first 17 games he has missed.