The Chicago Bulls are down to 10 players to face the Miami Heat in Florida after Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson entered the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols Saturday. Seven Bulls players are in the protocols — which means they tested positive for COVID-19 and have failed to produce two negative tests since — in the last two weeks.

       Alex Caruso will be available for the first time in a week after missing two games with a right hamstring strain that forced him to be pulled from the Dec. 4 road game against the Brooklyn Nets. Caruso’s return will bolster the Bulls, but the team is struggling with a diminished roster.

       Johnson signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls after the team earned a hardship exception following their fourth positive COVID-19 test earlier this week. He joined the team in Miami on Friday, entering the protocols less than 36 hours later.

       The NBA placed heavier restrictions on the Bulls following their second test, limiting the team to essential activities such as travel, practices and games. However, coach Billy Donovan said the league has not shown any signs of suspending or postponing the team’s games despite the outbreak. Currently, the Bulls will be expected to continue playing games unless they drop below the league-mandated minimum of eight available players.

       Dosunmu stepped up heavily throughout the last two weeks to replace the production of depth players — most importantly, fellow guard Coby White. White was the first player afflicted by the outbreak.

       After White tested positive on Dec. 1, the team hasn’t gone two days without at least one player entering quarantine: Javonte Green (Dec. 3), DeMar DeRozan (Sunday), Matt Thomas (Tuesday), Derrick Jones Jr. (Thursday) and now Dosunmu and Johnson. DeRozan’s absence has been extremely impactful for the Bulls, who haven’t been able to replace his scoring.

       Nikola Vu？evi？ also tested positive Nov. 11, missing seven games during a bout with the virus.

       The Bulls began testing players daily — sometimes more than once a day — after White’s positive test.

       Although the team hasn’t been able to contain the outbreak, Bulls players have reported only minor symptoms so far. White and Vu？evi？ both described “cold-like” symptoms, such as a fever and cough. Vu？evi？ passed his cardiovascular tests immediately following clearance on Nov. 22 and hasn’t reported any lingering effects since his return.

       2 more Chicago Bulls — Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson — enter the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, bringing their outbreak to 7 players

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