On Jan. 10, Denzel Valentine logged a season-high 30 minutes and scored a season-high 19 points, sinking five 3-pointers.

Two nights later, he fell ill and returned to the team hotel in New York. In the three games since he has played a combined 15 minutes, including not at all Tuesday in a loss to the Mavericks.

“I went with Jerian (Grant),” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “(The Mavs) obviously had played small lineups (and) had a couple of point guards out there. That's why.”

Grant had logged 20-plus minutes in six straight games, then didn't play at all in two games as Rajon Rondo moved back into the rotation before returning for 3 minutes, 44 seconds against the Mavericks.

Because of injury or illness, Paul Zipser went from not playing at all to starting to not playing to starting in two straight games.

And on and on and on.

The point is: With nine players having three years of experience or less and injury or illness constantly changing Hoiberg's rotation, the young players' performance isn't the only thing that's inconsistent. And that can affect development.

“We have so many young guys and all of them at some point over the course of the year have given us good minutes,” Hoiberg said. “You just have to try to find the right combinations. It's something that we'll continue to juggle until we find the right group.

“It's unfortunate. Denzel has had some good moments and then has had a setback on a couple of (occasions).”

No go: The Bulls held Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez out of practice Wednesday.

Lopez said he wanted to practice but was kept out for rest. Gibson's inactivity was part of a planned two-day break to address his sore left ankle, on which he had surgery in June 2015.

Both Hoiberg and Gibson said the forward is planning to start Friday against the Hawks in Atlanta.

Bombs away: Lopez revealed he has been working with assistant coach Pete Myers in practice on the corner 3-pointer.

“I don't know if it's game-ready yet,” Lopez said, smiling. “The way the NBA is going, why not (shoot it)? If Brook can do it, I definitely can.”

That's a playful reference to his twin brother, the Nets center who is shooting 34.6 percent on 191 attempts this season. Brook Lopez had attempted just 31 3s in his first eight seasons. Robin is 0-for-5 in his career.

“It's wonderful for the game,” Robin said of bigs launching 3-pointers. “There's a real premium on skill at all positions on the court. That's going to continue.

“You're going to have more skilled and talented big men and guards who will adjust by pulling up from half-court, like the Ball brothers at UCLA. It's really interesting the way the game is going to evolve.”

Robin also said he voted for himself at all five positions on his East All-Star ballot, which isn't allowed. So he was joking.

“I told you, I'm an innovator,” Robin said, referencing a Gibson dunk Sunday that came after a pass from Michael Carter-Williams bounced off Lopez's face.

“I stand by it.”