Josh Giddey, Lonzo ball injuries cause uncertainty

The Chicago Bulls could start the NBA-Play-in tournament without three of their point guards.

The Lonzo ball is not expected. Josh Giddey is questionable. And Tre Jones was not deleted to remove a hiking boot.

The possible absence of all three points for two potential KO games puts the bulls in a steep disadvantage when they try to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

The ninth bulls begin the play-in tournament against No. 10 Miami Heat at 6:30 p.m. in the United Center. When the bulls win, they would be taken over on Friday against the loser of the 7: 8 game on Tuesday between the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks on Friday on Friday in Cleveland Cavaliers in a playoff series in the first round.

Due to a forearm injury, Giddey did not travel with the bulls for the regular season finale on Sunday in Philadelphia. He was officially diagnosed with tendinitis in the right Flexor -Carpi -Uulnaris, which essentially means pain and tightness from his right forearm to his pinkie finger.

Coach Billy Donovan said the injury broke Giddey throughout the season, but she has worsened considerably in the past week. The recovery time can be difficult to predict.

Donovan said Giddey most likely tried to play the pain on Sunday when the post -season was at stake. However, Donovan was not sure whether Giddey would be released for the game on Wednesday.

Giddey’s shootout has significantly influenced the injury. In his last six games, he shot 30.4% from the 3-point range.

“It’s a problem,” said Donovan. “He tries to manage it as well as he can. I think (medical staff) felt like an additional day of rest to the healing process for him.”

Donovan was even more skeptical about Ball’s availability this week. Although he did not officially want to rule ball from both games, Donovan said that the bulls concentrate on bringing the ball back into the rotation for the playoffs if they can progress.

Ball only played 35 games of the regular season after achieving an unprecedented return from a 2½-season ability after a rare knee cartilage transplant. In October he suffered a sprain of the right wrist against the Memphis Grizzlies in October, which missed 14 games in autumn and the last 21 games after strengthening it.

After the ball had spent weeks with its wrist in a clip, it should return to basketball activities on Monday. Due to the comprehensive absence, Donovan said that ball would take several days to achieve the availability of the game day-at this point in time he would remain under the minute restriction that is necessary for his knee this season.

“If he can get through this week and we are lucky enough to play beyond the game, that would be the goal,” said Donovan. “If something does not happen significantly by Wednesday, I would be the feeling that it would probably not be available (for Wednesday). I don’t rule it out, but that’s where we are.”

Jones was excluded from the Play-in tournament and is the least likely of the three who return in the post-season. In March he suffered a sprain in the middle of the foot.

At the end of this season, Jones will be an unrestricted free agent. The bulls made him with the team during his short term after he had arrived at the Zach Lavine trade, but it is unclear whether space will be created for Jones for Jones next season.

Originally published: April 14, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. CDT