Bulls' Markkanen cleared by doctors after accelerated heart rate scare

Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen has been given the green light by doctors to return to the court after a rapid heart rate scare ended his season prematurely.

The Bulls announced Thursday that cardiologists at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Baltimore's John Hopkins University cleared the second-year star following a series of thorough examinations.

Doctors from both institutions ruled Markkanen's condition was due primarily to "a combination of dehydration and nutrient deficiency." He will return to his native Finland to participate in an offseason program before returning to train with the Bulls over the summer.

The 21-year-old experienced an accelerated heart rate and fatigue in a road game against the Toronto Raptors on March 26. He was assessed by Raptors' physicians at the time and then promptly shut down for the season by the Bulls.

Markkanen averaged 18.7 points and nine rebounds in 52 games in his sophomore campaign.