If you’ve been watching this Chicago Bulls season, you know the vibe is basically one giant game of "who’s actually left to play?" It’s January 13, 2026, and the team is heading into a matchup with the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center looking a little thin. Honestly, it’s frustrating. One minute the Bulls are finding a rhythm, and the next, the medical staff is handing out more ice packs than jerseys.
The Bulls injury report today is pretty much dominated by the backcourt. If you were hoping to see the star duo of Josh Giddey and Coby White orchestrating things tonight, I’ve got some bad news. It’s not happening.
The Josh Giddey Situation (Hamstring Blues)
Let’s talk about Giddey first. He’s been the engine of this offense. Losing him for the last two weeks to a left hamstring strain has basically felt like someone pulled the plug on the team’s transition game.
Coach Billy Donovan mentioned recently that Giddey is back on the court doing some light work, but don't get your hopes up for a surprise return in Houston. The medical team is being super cautious. There haven’t been any setbacks—which is great—but they aren't rushing him. We’re likely looking at another week or so before he’s actually ready for game speed. When you’re paying a guy $100 million and he’s putting up triple-doubles like they’re nothing, you don’t risk a re-injury just to win a mid-January game.
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Coby White’s Calf is a Recurring Nightmare
Then there’s Coby. This calf thing is getting old. He’s officially out for today’s game against the Rockets for "injury management."
Basically, Coby’s been dealing with right calf tightness on and off all season. He just played 29 minutes and dropped 22 points in that win over Dallas on Saturday, but the Bulls are being very careful about back-to-backs or heavy workloads right now. It sounds like he might be back for the Jazz game on Wednesday, but for tonight, he’s a no-go. It’s a bummer because when he’s on, the Bulls look like a completely different team.
The Rest of the MASH Unit
It’s not just the guards, either. The frontcourt is taking some hits too.
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- Zach Collins: Still sidelined with that right big toe sprain. He’s been out for a while and is looking at an indefinite timeline.
- Noa Essengue: The rookie’s season is essentially over after shoulder surgery. It’s tough to see a young guy lose that development time.
- Julian Phillips: He’s listed as probable with a left wrist sprain. He’ll likely play, but he’s probably going to be taped up pretty heavily.
On the bright side? Jalen Smith is back. After that scary concussion situation a week ago, he’s been cleared and has been a massive boost. He’s arguably playing the best basketball of his career right now, averaging about 9 points and over 6 rebounds in limited minutes.
Who Steps Up Tonight?
So, who does that leave?
Expect a lot of Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones. Ayo has been incredible lately, really stepping into that "next man up" role. He’s got that downhill speed that keeps defenses on their heels. We’re also seeing more of Matas Buzelis and Isaac Okoro—who, by the way, has been a steal since that trade that sent Lonzo Ball to Cleveland.
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Speaking of Lonzo, it’s weird not seeing him on the Bulls report anymore, right? Seeing him struggle to find minutes in Cleveland while the Bulls move on with this new-look roster is just one of those "what if" scenarios we'll be talking about for years.
Navigating the Houston Matchup
The Rockets are no joke this year, especially at home. Facing them without Giddey and White is a tall order. The Bulls are currently sitting at 18-20 and giving up way too many points—about 120 per game. Without their primary ball-handlers, they have to rely on Nikola Vucevic to be a hub in the high post and hope Kevin Huerter can find his stroke from deep.
If Chicago wants to stay competitive while the training room is full, they have to lean into their "big" lineups. We’ve seen Donovan experiment with Jalen Smith and Vucevic together, and while it's a bit slow, it’s been surprisingly effective at crashing the glass.
Actionable Insights for Bulls Fans
Keep a close eye on the starting lineup announcements about 30 minutes before tip-off. If Phillips’ wrist flares up, the wing depth becomes almost non-existent.
- Monitor the Wednesday Status: Since Coby White is out for "management" today, he’s a very likely candidate to play tomorrow against Utah.
- Watch the Giddey Ramp-up: Reports suggest he’s targeting a return toward the end of the week or early next week.
- Fantasy Tip: If you're into DFS, Ayo Dosunmu is a high-volume play tonight with both starting guards out.
The Bulls are in survival mode. The goal is just to stay within striking distance of .500 until the stars get back on the floor. It’s not pretty, but that’s life in the NBA in January.