The Chicago Bulls will be without their second unit leader on Sunday night as they face the New York Knicks for the second consecutive game. The team has officially ruled out guard Ayo Dosunmu, who is dealing with a quad contusion and is currently listed as day-to-day, according to The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi.
Dosunmu is coming off a stellar performance, having scored a season-high 22 points with 9 assists on 8-of-10 shooting in the Bulls’ Halloween victory over the Knicks. His next opportunity to take the court will be on Tuesday when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the United Center. The Bulls will also continue to be without starting guard Coby White.
*Oct 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) goes up for a shot over Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) in the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images*
### Can the Chicago Bulls Make Up for Ayo Dosunmu’s Absence?
The Bulls have started the season with an impressive 5-0 record, largely due to their well-rounded and unselfish offensive identity. However, compensating for Dosunmu’s absence will not be easy.
Dosunmu has arguably been the driving force behind the success of the Bulls’ second unit, which ranks second in the NBA in total bench points per game (49.0). He has averaged a career-best 16.2 points per game on an outstanding 57.7 percent shooting from the field.
The fifth-year guard’s dependability is further highlighted by head coach Billy Donovan’s decision to close out victories with him on the floor, despite not being part of the starting lineup. Dosunmu’s transition speed and downhill explosiveness have perfectly complemented the team’s preferred offensive style.
The Bulls enter this second matchup with the Knicks averaging the most points in the paint per game (58.4) and holding the fifth-highest effective field goal percentage (58.1) in the league. Dosunmu has been a major contributor to these impressive offensive metrics.
Given all this, his absence could very well be a deciding factor in tonight’s game. Dosunmu was the team’s third-leading scorer on Friday and played more minutes than three of the starters.
### Who Will Step Up?
With Dosunmu sidelined, the question is: who will fill the void in production? Will we see increased minutes for Jevon Carter, who shot exceptionally well in the preseason? Will coach Donovan turn to Dalen Terry more frequently, or will Julian Phillips see greater responsibility?
One thing is certain — someone will have to step up if the Bulls want to maintain their undefeated start to the season.
https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/11/02/chicago-bulls-ayo-out-ny/
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