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

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

He had an emotional comeback 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 presented him with the game ball and celebrated with him in the locker. room.

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

Subsequently, Ball downplayed the significance of this latest achievement.

“It looked a lot like the pre-season games, to be honest,” Paul said. “Same shots were there. Same minutes were there. Just about taking advantage of the time I’m there.”

The Bulls plan to bring Paul off the bench and limit his minutes to 14-16 minutes per game for at least the foreseeable future, according to coach Billy Donovan. Wednesday was the first time the ball came off the bench since Dec. 20, 2019.

“For him, he was able to understand the fact that this is the new standard for me,” Donovan said before the game. “This is my reality.”

However, Paul said his most important contribution was just being available.

He appeared in three short stints against the Pelicans, which included knocking down his first shot of the game, a 3-pointer in the first quarter. He checked in longer during the second quarter and played seven minutes. His final appearance came in the third, when he was limited to about three minutes before reaching his limit of the night.

Donovan said he saved a few minutes for Paul in case the game got closer to the fourth period, but the situation never arose for him to check back.

“I always want to be there,” Paul said. “But I have to listen to the coaching staff and my team and try to take the best path forward.”

Paul described his preseason appearance as a “trial run” leading up to the regular season, but he was looking forward to putting the talk about his left knee behind him and focusing on basketball. He has undergone three arthroscopic knee surgeries since playing in his last game more than 1,000 days ago.

Ball admitted that playing short minutes was an adjustment, but he tried to find ways to stay productive.

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

He’s also not expected to bowl back-to-back while the Bulls manage his health. Chicago has a game at Milwaukee on Friday before its home opener on Saturday, but Donovan said the team will monitor how Ball comes out of Wednesday’s game before determining his availability this weekend.

“I feel good,” Paul said. “Maybe we’ll feel a little better if we win, but it’s all good. We move on to the next game.”

Chicago gave up 30 points off turnovers Wednesday night, which tied for the most allowed since the start of last season.

“We got a little better,” said Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who finished with 27 points but also seven turnovers, his most in a game since December 2022. “Obviously we’re trying to play the right way, but we also had too many turnovers and not enough stops.”