Bulls suffer pain and injuries in blowout loss to 76ers

PHILADELPHIA — Guard Jaden Ivey’s runway for a return this season is down to about a sidewalk.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan gave the latest update on Ivey, and it wasn’t great Wednesday. Acquired from the Pistons in the Kevin Huerter trade, Ivey was back practicing last week after a monthlong knee-strengthening program and collided with a teammate.

Before that setback, Ivey was expected to return at some point on this four-city trip,.

“After he banged knees, he did have some swelling,” Donovan said. “That’s down now. He’s made some progress, but he’s not on this trip now. He was [left] behind, and we’ll try to continue to work on his strength and get him stronger. Banging the knee gave him a little more discomfort.”

It wasn’t the only discomfort Donovan’s roster was going through.

As if the 157-137 laugher against the 76ers wasn’t bad enough, the Bulls also lost center Nick Richards with an injured right elbow and forward Jalen Smith to his recurring calf issue in the first half. It wasn’t an ideal situation for a team already undersized in the frontcourt, and 76ers center Joel Embiid made the Bulls pay with 35 points in 28 minutes.

“We’re not mathematically eliminated, but we’re pretty much eliminated,” guard Josh Giddey said of the latest loss. “I think the important thing [the rest of the season] is we try to play the right way.”

Basically, the opposite of what they did against Philadelphia, especially in the third quarter, when they allowed 51 points.

“It was disappointing,” Donovan said. “Even before Jalen got hurt, Nick got hurt, we didn’t start off the game shooting the ball well.”

Donovan thought that poor start bled into all aspects of the game, and there was no recovery.

Meanwhile, the Bulls (29-43) at least have some immediate clarity with Smith and Richards.

Smith has one more year left on his deal, while Richards is a free agent. The challenge of the Ivey situation is he’s a restricted free agent. The Bulls would like to see if he could get back to the explosive player he was coming out of Purdue before committing to him, but that might not happen.

Ideally, Ivey stays in Chicago and works with the medical team after the season, but every player is different.

“There’s no question that when it comes to Jaden,’’ Donovan said, ‘‘our medical people would be absolutely open-minded about him staying [in Chicago], working with him and getting him stronger. But once the season ends, I’m sure there will be some collaboration with our medical guys, any second opinions with doctors, coaches, to figure out what’s the best avenue to work on his strength and get him back on the court playing.’’

Mr. Smith’s future

Donovan said after the game that because Smith continues to be plagued by the calf injury, there has to be a discussion on whether they should shut him down for the rest of the season.

Smith will make $9.4 million next season, then could become a free agent.

Say what?

The 157 points by the 76ers were the most they’ve scored since the 1969-70 season.

The Bulls trailed by 39 and allowed 122 points after three quarters.