Nic Claxton Doubtful for Monday as Bulls' Brutal Start Continues

Nic Claxton is officially listed as doubtful for Monday with a hamstring issue, which is exactly the kind of news you want when your team is already in a full-blown tailspin.

Underdog NBA reported the downgrade on Sunday night, signaling that the Chicago Bulls will likely be without their starting center to open the week. If you were planning to hammer his rebound props, it is time to find a new angle and pivot your slip.

"Underdog NBA reported Sunday night that Claxton is officially listed as doubtful for Monday."

Hamstrings are the check-engine lights of the NBA. You can try to ignore the warning for a few games, but eventually, the whole car is smoking on the side of the highway. This specific injury has been lingering since the preseason, and rushing a big man back from a soft-tissue problem is a recipe for a two-month absence.

The timing could not be worse for Chicago. The Bulls are sitting at a brutal 1-5 to start the 2026-27 season, which is the kind of record that makes fans want to simulate straight to the draft lottery. Claxton was brought in to be the defensive anchor, and without him, the rotation looks dangerously thin.

Missing your primary rim protector when you are already bleeding games in the Eastern Conference standings is a disaster. Opposing guards are about to treat the Chicago paint like a layup line, and smart bettors will be looking closely at the over on whoever happens to be driving the lane against them.

Expect the Bulls to play this safe, because a November win is not worth a January surgery. Keep an eye on the final injury report Monday afternoon, but fantasy managers and prop bettors should absolutely be making backup plans for the frontcourt.