Chicago Bulls Hit Hard by Injuries in 35-Point Loss to Timberwolves

The Chicago Bulls suffered a devastating 35-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 29, but the damage extended beyond the scoreboard.
The team also lost both members of its starting backcourt, with Coby White exiting due to calf tightness and Josh Giddey leaving with a hamstring injury.

Coby White’s night was cut short after just seven minutes of action.
The 25-year-old guard came up limping before heading to the locker room, later being ruled out at halftime with calf tightness in the same right calf that sidelined him for 11 games earlier this season.

Despite the scare, there is reason for optimism regarding White.
He was not diagnosed with a calf strain and is currently listed with calf tightness ahead of the Bulls’ New Year’s Eve matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

White will miss Chicago’s final game of the calendar year, but reports suggest his absence will be brief.
The team expects him back shortly, meaning his injury is more of a minor setback than a prolonged concern for the Bulls’ rotation.

Josh Giddey, however, was not as fortunate.
Initially listed as experiencing hamstring tightness, ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed that the 23-year-old point guard suffered a left hamstring strain and will miss “at least a few weeks” of action.

Hamstring strains are notoriously unpredictable, with recovery timelines varying widely depending on the severity of the injury.
For context, Nets guard Cam Thomas suffered a hamstring strain on November 5 and was initially expected to miss three to four weeks, but he did not return until December 27, missing 20 games over 52 days—just over seven weeks.

If Giddey’s recovery mirrors Thomas’s, he could miss around 24 games for Chicago.
A more optimistic comparison is Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain on November 4 and returned after just 15 days, missing only eight games.

The severity of Giddey’s strain will ultimately determine his timeline.
Grade 1 strains involve minor pulls and typically require a few weeks to recover, Grade 2 strains are partial tears that can sideline a player for four to eight weeks, and Grade 3 strains are complete ruptures that may take months.

Observing Giddey’s ability to walk off the court without noticeable limping suggests a less severe injury.
It is more likely he sustained either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 strain, which aligns with Charania’s report of a recovery period spanning “a few weeks.”

This injury is a significant blow to both Giddey and the Bulls organization.
Giddey was in the midst of a career year, ranking 14th in the initial returns of the 2025–26 All-Star voting, and his absence leaves Chicago without its starting backcourt for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Billy Donovan now faces a critical challenge in adjusting the Bulls’ lineup.
In Giddey’s absence, Donovan is expected to rely heavily on Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones to handle backcourt duties and maintain stability for the team.

Dosunmu, Huerter, and Jones have previously filled in for starting roles, making seven, eight, and 11 starts respectively this season.
While they have experience, none match Giddey’s combination of floor leadership, playmaking, and scoring ability, meaning the Bulls may struggle to maintain offensive consistency.

The timing of the injuries is particularly concerning given the Bulls’ schedule leading into January.
Facing tough matchups, including the Pelicans and other Eastern Conference competitors, Chicago will need bench contributions and smart coaching adjustments to stay competitive.

Giddey’s absence also impacts the team’s All-Star hopes and statistical momentum.
He has been central to Chicago’s playmaking, averaging career highs in multiple categories, and missing weeks of action could hinder his recognition among Eastern Conference peers.

For Bulls fans, the key will be monitoring recovery updates for both guards.
White appears to be on track for a quick return, but Giddey’s hamstring remains the bigger concern, and the organization will need patience and careful management to avoid setbacks.

This injury situation underscores the fragility of NBA rosters in the modern game.
Even a single injury to a starting guard can ripple through rotations, forcing coaches to rely on depth players and adjust offensive schemes on the fly.

Looking ahead, the Bulls’ ability to weather this backcourt crisis could define their early 2026 momentum.
If Dosunmu, Huerter, and Jones can step up effectively, Chicago has a chance to stabilize, but the absence of Giddey remains a major hurdle in pursuit of playoff positioning.