Josh Giddey missed his first game in a Chicago Bulls uniform last night against the Boston Celtics due to an ankle injury suffered on Monday night in Toronto. He was on pace for his second triple-double of the season, ending with 11 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists before an early exit because of the ankle mishap. There have been a healthy amount of mixed reviews on the newcomer’s start to the year, but there’s no denying he has been stellar of late. Over his six games in December, he’s posting 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game, including his first triple-double as a Bull. Each of those figures was an improvement from the previous two months. Arguably playing his best basketball in Chicago so far, new reports say he might thankfully miss less time than initially estimated. When’s he due back, and how can he continue his hot streak this month?
Dodged A Bullet
The good news for Josh Giddey is that his injury wasn’t to the degree that many first thought. A non-contact lower leg injury is typically the worst kind, often taking weeks or months to heal. In Giddey’s case, it could only be days, according to head coach Billy Donovan. The additive in this scenario is that it is the same ankle he hurt during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, so the fear of re-injury was high. The third-quarter exit prevented his 13th career triple-double.
Josh Giddey has gone down with what looks like a nasty ankle sprain… 😬
Giddey was having himself a game before badly turning his ankle – nearing a triple-double with 11 points, 8 assists and 9 rebounds before exiting the game in the 3rd quarter. #NBA pic.twitter.com/IhImpBdXpZ
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) December 17, 2024
Out Of A Walking Boot And No Limp
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network reported before yesterday’s matchup with Boston that the Bulls seem to have skated any catastrophic injury on Monday night. Giddey was seen walking around without any boots, crutches, or cast. He didn’t have a limp and told reporters that his desired return to the court was Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. This would sideline him for two games total, the Celtics last night and again tomorrow night.
Josh Giddey is walking around without a limp and wearing his typical look of no socks and what only can be described as furry slippers/house shoes. So while he’s listed as questionable and may miss time, Bulls avoided serious injury.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 19, 2024
Chicago is riding a three-game winning streak and has been victorious in five of their last seven outings. They’ll need to continue the trend as their four meetings are with Eastern Conference teams currently in the playoffs, including two with the NBA Cup Champion Milwaukee Bucks and a rematch with the Celtics on Saturday. Can the Bulls head into the new year moving up in the Eastern Conference standings, or will one loss turn into a slippery slope back to the depths of the league?
