Bulls
The Bulls will be without Josh Giddey for the foreseeable future.
Giddey has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and is expected to miss at least a few weeks, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic later confirmed through team PR that what was initially labeled hamstring tightness has officially been classified as a strain.
The timing is brutal for Chicago. Giddey has been in the midst of a career season, averaging 19.2 points, 9.0 assists and 8.9 rebounds across 29 games while leading the Bulls in all three categories.
Even a short-term absence carries major implications, both for Chicago’s on-court competitiveness and its approach to the trade deadline.
The Bulls had won five straight before dropping their past two to fall to 15-17, good for ninth in the East and a current play-in position.
Giddey’s injury adds to a growing list of backcourt concerns. Coby White re-injured his right calf Monday, while Zach Collins suffered a toe injury.
With Giddey sidelined, the Bulls are expected to lean on Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter and Jevon Carter to stabilize the rotation in the coming weeks.
It’s a significant test for a team already walking the tightrope between playoff contention and deadline recalibration.
Hawks
Kristaps Porzingis appears poised to return.
The Hawks’ big man is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game against Minnesota, as relayed by Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks.
Porzingis has missed 14 of the past 15 games due to an unspecified illness, including the last 10 straight.
After briefly returning earlier this month, Porzingis admitted frustration with the situation, stressing that it was not related to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the condition that sidelined him for long stretches during the 2024/25 season with Boston.
When available in his first season with Atlanta, Porzingis has been productive in a reduced role, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting .497/.364/.855 in a career-low 25.9 minutes per game.
His return would be welcome for a Hawks team that has dropped seven straight and sits at 15-19. Atlanta’s defense has been particularly shaky, allowing 126 or more points in nine consecutive losses and ranking 23rd in opponent field-goal percentage (47.9).
Porzingis’ presence could also ripple beyond the court. His $30.7 million expiring contract looms as a potential salary-matching piece if Atlanta explores larger moves ahead of the February 5 deadline.
The Hawks have been linked to Anthony Davis, though no momentum has been reported on that front.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Jalen Johnson is also off the report after missing Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City with an illness, while Trae Young is listed as questionable due to a right quad contusion.
Nets
Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak ended Monday against Golden State, but the broader trend has caught attention around the league.
Before surrendering 120 points to the Warriors, the Nets owned the NBA’s top defensive rating in December, according to C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News.
During that stretch, Brooklyn picked up wins over Toronto, Philadelphia, and Minnesota while showing signs of cohesion amid a rebuild.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr took notice.
“Looks like it’s working,” Kerr said. “I watched the Minnesota game, that was impressive. Every time we’ve played them the last couple of years, they’ve been energetic, well-organized, well-coached.
“Jordi (Fernandez) is doing a great job, his staff, player development, in the face of obviously a rebuild.”
The Nets may not be fully formed yet, but their recent defensive identity and organizational clarity have started to register league-wide.
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