Josh Giddey Returns For Bulls As Minutes Restriction Shapes Timberwolves Clash

Josh Giddey’s long-awaited return to the Chicago Bulls lineup became a reality on Thursday night, as the 23-year-old point guard suited up for the first time in nearly a month to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. After missing 11 consecutive games with a strained left hamstring, Giddey was officially cleared to play—but with a significant caveat: he’d be limited to roughly 24 minutes as the Bulls medical staff and head coach Billy Donovan looked to ease him back into the grind of NBA action.

Giddey’s absence was felt across the Windy City. Before the injury, he’d been enjoying a career season, averaging 19.2 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.9 rebounds per game over his first 30 contests. The Bulls, who hovered around .500 during his time on the sidelines, posted a 6-5 record in those 11 games. That mark included a couple of wins against teams deep in rebuilding mode, like the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, perhaps flattering Chicago’s true form without their Australian floor general.

Giddey’s last appearance before the injury came on December 29, 2025, also against the Timberwolves. In that contest, he tallied 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists before pulling up gimpy in the third quarter, ultimately being ruled out with what was later diagnosed as a hamstring strain. The following day, the Bulls confirmed he would miss several weeks—a timeline that proved accurate as Giddey worked his way back through rehab and practice stints, including a full session with the Windy City Bulls before being upgraded from questionable to probable for Thursday’s rematch.

When Giddey finally checked in with 5:30 left in the first quarter, the crowd at the United Center buzzed with anticipation. He wasted little time making his presence felt, racking up 13 points, a rebound, and a steal in a burst of energy that suggested he hadn’t missed a beat. Yet, as head coach Billy Donovan emphasized before tipoff, the Bulls are looking at the bigger picture. "I think for Josh individual stats, he’s gotten better as a shooter, I think he’s gotten better defensively, those two things, but I do think he has a unique ability to raise the people around him," Donovan told reporters. "When most young players come in they want to do well, they’re focused on themselves, not that Josh is focused on himself but coming into a new situation he wanted to play well. Then he’s trying to adapt because he is such a unique passer for his size, and he’s trying to balance all that out. I think the ceiling for him really is he’ll keep getting better as a player individually, but I think the thing for him when the ball is in his hands is that balance between himself and his teammates and how well can he raise everyone around him by making the game easier."

That ability to elevate teammates has been sorely needed for a Bulls squad still searching for consistency. The team’s offensive production dipped slightly during Giddey’s absence, from 117.9 points per game to 116.8, and the attack became more reliant on three-point shooting. The Bulls launched an average of 41.7 triples per game without Giddey, up from 39.4 with him orchestrating the offense. Players like Coby White and Kevin Huerter saw their long-range attempts climb, with White averaging 7.3 attempts and converting at a 43.2% clip during the stretch. Matas Buzelis, the second-year forward, also stepped up, increasing his usage rate by 2.6% and averaging 17.9 points per game, while launching nearly seven threes per contest.

The Bulls’ lineup has seen its fair share of shuffling during this period. Coby White, who had also battled injury, returned to form in recent games, putting up 22.7 points on efficient shooting splits. Tre Jones and Jalen Smith filled in admirably, but it was Buzelis who emerged as a breakout contributor, thriving in a more featured role. His athleticism and fastbreak prowess offered a glimpse of what the Bulls’ future could look like, especially as he and Giddey are seen as foundational pieces moving forward. The question now is how Buzelis will adapt to a more supplemental role with Giddey back in action, and whether Donovan can find the right balance to maximize both players’ strengths.

Meanwhile, the Bulls’ injury woes haven’t disappeared entirely. Zach Collins remains sidelined with a toe sprain and isn’t expected back until after the All-Star break. Patrick Williams, still nursing an ankle sprain, was listed as questionable for Thursday’s tilt, marking his third straight game with that designation. On the Timberwolves’ side, Terrence Shannon Jr. missed his 14th straight game with a foot injury, while Julius Randle was a game-time decision due to foot soreness, despite participating in Minnesota’s morning shootaround.

As for Giddey’s immediate impact, Donovan remains optimistic about his trajectory. "When you look at him offensively, defensively, he gets a lot of numbers in areas and I think he can affect the game in a lot of different ways," the coach said. "I think since the All-Star Break last year he’s played at a really incredible level." The Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, will also be keeping a close eye on Giddey’s reintegration, especially with the February 5 trade deadline looming and Chicago facing the fourth-toughest remaining schedule in the league.

One more storyline to watch: Ayo Dosunmu’s continued development. Entering the Timberwolves game, Dosunmu had set career highs in scoring, free throw attempts, and a remarkable 46.1% from three-point range. Donovan credited Dosunmu’s improved health and confidence as key factors, noting, "Some of the shoulder (injury) stuff he had last year may have had an impact on him as he was trying to play through that. I always felt like he had a good touch. I know he had a low release, didn’t shoot it off the dribble much, but always had a pretty good touch. I felt like if he would put his mind to it he would get pretty good at shooting the basketball."

With Giddey’s return, the Bulls’ offense may finally regain its rhythm. But Donovan’s cautious approach—deploying Giddey off the bench and maintaining the starting backcourt of White and Isaac Okoro—signals that Chicago is playing the long game. Giddey’s minutes will ramp up only as his conditioning and health allow, keeping the team’s playoff hopes alive while minimizing the risk of re-injury.

As the Bulls battle through a daunting schedule and continue to juggle injuries, the return of their floor general offers a much-needed boost. Whether Giddey can push Chicago back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture remains to be seen, but his presence alone has already injected fresh optimism into the United Center. The next few weeks will reveal just how high the Bulls can soar with their Aussie star back in the fold.