“This is an opportunity”: Bulls hit hard by injuries as Billy Donovan calls on guards to step up

Monday turned into a rough night for Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls. The Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed them in a 136-101 blowout, and the losses kept piling up as the game went on. Coby White exited in the second quarter with a right calf injury and never returned, and Josh Giddey followed in the third after suffering a hamstring issue that also ended his night early.

The Bulls absorbed a multiple blows, and the fallout may not stop there. With injuries piling up, head coach Billy Donovan made it clear after the game that Chicago cannot wait around to see who gets healthy. He pointed directly to the need for others to step forward in the backcourt, stressing that certain players must fill the guard minutes and shoulder responsibility regardless of what happens with Josh Giddey or Coby White.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is blunt about other guards stepping up regardless of the status of Coby White and Josh Giddey

“I think there’s enough there for Ayo (Dosunmu), Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones to carry the load” ⁦@ClutchPoints⁩ pic.twitter.com/nRDNkm1Uf4

— Zachary Draves (@DravesZachary) December 30, 2025

“I’m disappointed, and I feel bad for guys when they can’t play,” said the Bulls head coach. “But this is an opportunity, can we grow from this and learned from what happened last time because we need to play better. I think I’ve said before, are the injuries impactful? Yes, but these guys are all pros, and they all want an opportunity to play.”

Billy Donovan calls on his backup guards to step-up for the Bulls

The loss marked Chicago’s second-largest defeat of the season. The only worse result came on Nov. 21, when the Bulls fell to the Miami Heat by 36 points in a 143-107 blowout. In this one, Josh Giddey logged just 18 minutes and finished with 11 points, while Coby White lasted only seven minutes before exiting without scoring.

“We’ve got to be a whole lot better. Our guard play in particular needs to get better. I know with Coby and Josh, whatever their status may be in the future, I think there’s enough there for Ayo (Dosunmu), Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones to carry the load.”

Donovan did see solid production from the players he highlighted. Ayo Dosunmu led that group with 11 points while adding seven assists and six rebounds. Kevin Huerter chipped in eight points and six boards, and Jones matched Dosunmu with 11 points to go along with four assists.

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