CHICAGO, IL – In a devastating blow to the Chicago Bulls’ lineup, the team’s top two scorers, guards Coby White and Josh Giddey, were forced to exit Monday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to injuries. The Bulls, already grappling with roster challenges, now face uncertainty as they await further evaluations on their star players.
White, the Bulls’ leading scorer this season with an average of 20.5 points per game, suffered a right calf strain early in the first quarter. He played just 6 minutes and 35 seconds before leaving the game and was officially ruled out at halftime. This injury is particularly concerning given White’s history; he missed the first 11 games of the season due to a similar calf issue. Team officials have not yet provided a timeline for his return, but sources indicate that imaging tests are scheduled for Tuesday to assess the severity.
Not long after, in the opening minute of the second half, Giddey – Chicago’s second-leading scorer at 19.5 points per game – appeared to injure his left hamstring. He walked off the court gingerly and was also ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Giddey had been a bright spot for the Bulls, contributing 11 points in limited action during the second quarter before the injury. Beyond scoring, Giddey has been a triple-double machine, ranking second in the NBA with seven this season while averaging 9.2 assists and 9.1 rebounds. His all-around production has been vital to the team’s recent push toward .500.
The injuries compound an already tough situation for the Bulls, who entered the game without center Zach Collins. Coach Billy Donovan confirmed before tip-off that Collins, sidelined with a sprained right big toe, is expected to miss several games. Collins, standing at 6-foot-11, had been a key contributor off the bench since returning from a 21-game absence due to a fractured scaphoid bone in his left wrist. In his 10 games back, he’s averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, scoring in double figures in six straight outings.
“Obviously coming out of the wrist injury break, him coming back, I think he made a pretty significant impact that allowed us to play big,” Donovan said prior to the game. “Just his physicality, his rebounding, some of the things he did screen-wise really helped us.”
The Bulls have leaned on a double-big lineup featuring starting center Nikola Vucevic alongside Collins, which fueled a five-game winning streak that brought the team back to .500 before a recent loss to Milwaukee dropped them to 15-16. With White, Giddey, and Collins now out, Chicago’s depth will be tested as they navigate a demanding schedule.
As of late Monday night, no further updates were available on White or Giddey’s conditions. The team is expected to release more information following medical evaluations. The Bulls’ next game is against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, where they’ll look to regroup amid these setbacks.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the Chicago Bulls’ injury situation.