The Chicago Bulls didn’t just lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They may have lost a little more than that.

Late in the third quarter, Matas Buzelis went down after stepping on an opposing player’s foot. The play looked routine at first, but the reaction wasn’t. Buzelis immediately began limping and eventually headed back to the locker room. When he returned to the bench, it quickly became clear he wouldn’t be finishing the game.

Head coach Billy Donovan later confirmed what many feared: Buzelis suffered an ankle sprain.

The good news is that the injury doesn’t appear to be long-term. Donovan labeled Buzelis day-to-day, and the rookie himself sounded optimistic about returning soon. Buzelis has been one of the few constants for the Bulls this season, appearing in every game while averaging over 15 points and five rebounds.

Losing that reliability, even temporarily, would be another blow to a team already dealing with a lengthy injury report.

What made the situation even more concerning was that Buzelis wasn’t the only player dealing with an ankle issue.

Josh Giddey also rolled his ankle earlier in the game. Unlike Buzelis, Giddey was able to return and finish the night, recording a double-double while continuing his strong stretch of play. The guard has quietly been putting together one of the most productive runs of his Bulls tenure, and his presence has been critical for a roster trying to stay competitive through constant lineup changes.

Giddey later indicated that the ankle didn’t feel too serious after treatment, though both players were set to undergo further evaluation.

The timing of these injuries couldn’t be worse. Chicago is about to embark on a five-game road trip while already missing several rotation players. Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, Patrick Williams, and Jalen Smith are all sidelined, forcing Donovan to manage a constantly shifting rotation.

Donovan explained that the plan for returning players will depend largely on when they’re fully healthy. With limited games left in the season, the Bulls will have to evaluate how each player fits once they’re available again.

That’s particularly true for Ivey.

Jaden Ivey’s absence has now stretched beyond three weeks and at least eleven games. While Donovan believes the guard will return before the end of the season, the extended recovery creates an uncomfortable reality.

Ivey is heading toward restricted free agency.

The longer he remains off the court, the harder it becomes for the Bulls to evaluate whether he fits into the team’s future. The organization initially viewed him as a major addition at the trade deadline, a player with explosive athleticism and proven scoring ability. But injuries have slowed that momentum significantly.

Chicago now faces a looming decision. If Ivey returns late in the season, the front office may only have a handful of games to determine how aggressively they want to invest in him.

That decision will ultimately land on Artūras Karnišovas and the front office leadership.

Karnišovas has been running the Bulls since April of 2020. During that time, the team has hovered around a 46 percent win rate with only one playoff appearance and a single playoff victory. The roster has already undergone multiple resets under his watch, including the latest overhaul at the trade deadline.

Ownership will decide how much time he has left to prove this version of the rebuild can work.

For now, the focus returns to health, development, and surviving a difficult stretch of games ahead.

For more insights and a deeper dive into the Chicago Bulls’ injury situation and roster decisions, tune into the Chicago Bulls Central podcast for this and much more.