For the first time in 2025, the Chicago Bulls are not in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Following the Bulls' victory against the Utah Jazz on March 17, they have jumped the Miami Heat to gain control of ninth place in the east.
Chicago has won five of its last six contests, with its only loss coming against the Western Conference's second-best team—the Houston Rockets. The Bulls narrowly pulled off an upset in Houston, losing 117-114. During this torrid stretch, Chicago ranks in the top 10 in net rating, defensive rating, fast break points, points in the paint, plus/minus, and points allowed. A downhill, attacking offense paired with a stifling defense has led to the late-season renaissance.
After trading Zach LaVine over a month ago, a rebuild appeared imminent. Early indications made the rebuild all too believable. The Bulls won merely three games in February. However, March has been a revelation, and not enough credit can be given to 22-year-old point guard Josh Giddey for the turnaround.
Since the All-Star break, Giddey has averaged 23.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 52.5 percent from beyond the arc. Giddey's masterful performances became a nightly occurrence. That is until an injury knocked the 6-foot-8 guard out of Chicago's bout with the Indiana Pacers on March 10.
Giddey suffered a sprained right ankle—and it didn't look good. The Aussie immediately left the game and slammed his hand in frustration on a table as he headed toward the locker room. It was the same ankle Giddey injured last summer in the Olympics. Speaking with reporters, Giddey shared that the injury was "the most pain I've ever had from a rolled ankle."
Josh Giddey is set to make his return from injury
Despite suffering the injury nine days ago, Giddey will return to the hardwood on March 19 against the Phoenix Suns. Giddey said he's giving it a go and is off the injury report altogether ahead of tonight's matchup. The combo guard joined the Bulls on their six-game road trip and only missed the first two contests against Houston and the Utah Jazz.
Without Giddey in the lineup, Head Coach Billy Donovan had turned to 6-foot-7 wing Kevin Huerter. With Giddey now healthy, expect a starting combination of Coby White, Tre Jones, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic alongside the floor general.
Although Giddey is suiting up against the Suns, don't expect to see him in the lineup on March 20 versus LaVine and the Sacramento Kings. Donovan mentioned previously that Giddey would play in at least one of the Bulls' back-to-back contests.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Phoenix Suns
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Lonzo Ball (Right Wrist Sprain).
Phoenix Suns
Out: Grayson Allen (Left Foot Strain), Bradley Beal (Left Hamstring Strain), Mason Plumlee (Left Quadriceps Strain).