DeMar DeRozan again leads the short-handed Chicago Bulls in a 133-118 rout of the Houston Rockets

CHICAGO — Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan texted Zach LaVine after Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, sending his absent teammate a simple, four-word message:

“Get your ass back.”

There’s no doubt the Bulls have missed their leader as they returned this week from an unplanned COVID-19-related hiatus. DeRozan and LaVine have been the league’s top-scoring duo, and one without the other is like peanut butter without jelly.

But LaVine won’t return from his stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols until after Christmas, and with four others out because of the virus, it’s incumbent on