The Chicago Bulls aren’t wasting any time getting real with their fans. With everything on the line in tonight’s Play-In matchup against the Miami Heat, Billy Donovan isn’t sugarcoating anything about Josh Giddey’s status—and it’s the kind of brutal honesty fans love to hate. Yes, the Bulls’ season is hanging by a thread, and Giddey’s wrist might just be the scissors.
Speaking on 670 The Score, Donovan painted a pretty rough picture. We’re talking about a muscle issue in Giddey’s hand that’s zapping mobility, triggering pain, and throwing a wrench into the Bulls’ prep. Giddey even sat out the final two games of the regular season just to rehab away from the team. That’s how serious it was. But here’s the plot twist—after practicing on Tuesday and telling reporters there’s no way he misses the Heat game, Giddey is officially listed as probable. So yes, barring any last-minute disaster, Josh Giddey is suiting up.
Bulls Injury Report: Giddey’s In, But There’s a Catch
Let’s be real—probable is one thing. Being able to deal with a full-throttle Heat defense that’s been top-6 in forcing turnovers over the last 15 games? That’s another beast. According to Billy Donovan, Giddey will still have to “deal with it,” referring to the lingering pain and limited range of motion in his wrist.
The Bulls head coach explained that just before their game against Washington, Giddey couldn’t even get through warmups. So while he’s had treatment and rest, expect him to be less than 100%.
Donovan: Bulls optimistic Josh Giddey (wrist) will be available to play Wednesday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 15, 2025
This matters. Because if there’s one guy Miami will target on defense, it’s Giddey—and they’ll be slapping at that wrist like a game of Whac-A-Mole. Expect pressure, traps, and maybe even a few sneaky swipes. But Giddey has something the Heat should fear: recent dominance. On April 9, he casually dropped a 28-point, 16-rebound, 11-assist triple-double on Miami. And the time before that? Yep—another triple-double.
Elsewhere on the Bulls’ injury sheet, things are relatively tame. Dalen Terry (calf) is probable but may not see major minutes. Lonzo Ball (wrist) is listed as doubtful and is still inching his way back toward game readiness—possibly for the next round if Chicago makes it there. Tre Jones (foot) and Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) are officially out.
Billy Donovan’s Bluff? Bulls Playing Mind Games With the Heat
Now here’s a thought: What if Billy Donovan is doing more than just giving injury updates? What if he’s playing chess while the rest of us are still fiddling with the checkerboard?
Let’s rewind. On 670 The Score, Donovan gave just enough detail to sound honest — “It’s a muscle issue in his hand, he tried some light shooting,” and “he’s going to have to deal with it.” Sounds straightforward, right? But then, hours later, Giddey fully practices and insists there’s no chance he’s missing the game. Huh?
Dec 8, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Could this have all been a carefully crafted move to keep the Heat unsure of what lineup to prepare for? Because if you’re Erik Spoelstra, and you’re game-planning for a Bulls team with or without Josh Giddey, that’s two very different scouting reports.
Let’s not pretend NBA coaches don’t play these kinds of games. In a Play-In situation where one game decides your fate, every ounce of uncertainty helps. The Bulls might’ve just used the injury report as a smokescreen to keep Miami off-balance — and if Giddey comes out firing, it’ll feel like Donovan just pulled off the oldest trick in the book.
The post Is Josh Giddey Playing Tonight vs Heat? Billy Donovan Clarifies Bulls Injury Report Ahead of Play-In Clash appeared first on EssentiallySports.
