Kobe and Riddle were suspended due to a conflict that broke out during training.
However, the Trail Blazers announced that Riddle and Kobe were affected by injuries and were placed on the watch list.
On the night of the 4th, the Trail Blazers played against the Chicago Bulls as visitors, facing a disadvantage due to the absence of two key players.
In the last battle between Gan Qiao and the Bulls in Portland, Gan Guoyang's miraculous buzzer-beater left the entire team eager to reclaim victory.
Moreover, with this game being at the United Center in Chicago, the Bulls had no reason to let this victory slip away.
Unexpectedly, the Trail Blazers, minus two main players, had a strong start. They led the Bulls 31-25 in the first quarter.
Van Exel delivered an outstanding performance from beyond the arc against the Bulls, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter, leaving Phil Jackson exceptionally frustrated.
