The Bulls face the Pelicans shorthanded as injury woes mount. What a huge blow.
Chicago Bulls starting guard Josh Giddey will miss at least a few weeks with a left hamstring strain, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
Giddey suffered the injury during Monday's 136-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and was initially listed with left hamstring tightness on Tuesday. The further evaluation result will sideline the Australian guard for an extended period.
Giddey has averaged 19.2 points, 9 assists and 8.9 rebounds this season, marking a career high with the Bulls. He ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference in the First Fan Returns for the NBA All-Star Game. His injury will significantly impact Chicago, which has now lost two games in a row and sits ninth (15-17) in the East.
The Bulls will also be without starting guard Coby White for Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. White is dealing with right calf tightness, which is slightly good news as the diagnosis doesn't show White has a strain on his right calf, the previous injury that sidelined him for the first 17 games of the season. Both guards limped off the court during Monday's blowout loss.
The injury crisis extends beyond the starting lineup. Beyond Zach Collins' likely one-week absence due to a right toe sprain, all three Bulls two-way players — Lachlan Olbrich (left ankle sprain), Emanuel Miller (right hamstring strain), and Trentyn Flowers (right knee hyperextension) — will also be unavailable for Wednesday's game. The depleted roster leaves Chicago significantly short-handed as they look to bounce back from consecutive losses following a five-game winning streak.
The Pelicans face their own injury challenges. Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray will both be out against the Bulls due to injuries. Additionally, Jose Alvarado will serve the second and final game of his suspension after a fight with Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams on Dec. 28.
White and Giddey have been crucial to Chicago's recent success, averaging 20.5 and 19.5 points, respectively, and accounting for nearly 33% of the Bulls' scoring this season. Without their dominant impact, the Bulls will need significant contributions from their bench, which ranks second in the league in bench scoring at 44.8 points per game, to compete against New Orleans on Wednesday.