Two days after a 135-92 beating in Toronto, the Bulls have five players listed day-to-day, Josh Giddey among them. Tonight in Milwaukee starts a back-to-back that finishes at home against Washington.
Giddey's wrist. Josh Giddey landed on the injury report Thursday with a wrist issue and is day-to-day for the Bucks. He runs everything for this team, and his 9.1 assists a night last season led the club. A sore wrist on the player who touches every possession matters more than any other line on the report.
No center to spare. Nic Claxton's hamstring keeps him out until a projected Nov. 4 return. Zach Collins, cleared Wednesday, went back on the list Thursday with a quadriceps issue. Tobe Awaka's left knee has him day-to-day. Jalen Smith is the only healthy big who logged real minutes last season. Who starts at center tonight is an open question.
Illness still hanging around. Swain and Hawkins have toggled between out and day-to-day with an illness since Oct. 20, and both remain listed. Swain is the No. 15 pick; Hawkins came in as a two-way signee. Both are wing bodies that a short rotation cannot afford to lose.
Miller's minutes. Leonard Miller is averaging 28.8 minutes over his last 10 games, up 13.1 from his season mark. With the frontcourt this banged up, that workload is not shrinking. He was cleared from a right groin issue Wednesday, so the body has to hold.
The number. Toronto scored 135. Last season Chicago allowed 117.4 points per 100 possessions, 22nd in the league, and the opener was worse. The power rankings dropped the Bulls from 23rd to 29th in a week. That is where this group starts, and it has to defend its way out.
Know the Bucks. Milwaukee is 0-1 under Taylor Jenkins and lists no injuries. The Bucks went 32-50 last season with a 118.3 defensive rating, worse than Chicago's. Ryan Rollins led them at 17.3 points; Tyler Herro scored 20.5 in 33 games. Chicago won 125-104 in Milwaukee on Oct. 14, but that was preseason.
Is Josh Giddey playing tonight against the Bucks?
Giddey is listed day-to-day with a wrist issue, and Oct. 23 was his expected return date. His status for tip-off has not been confirmed.
When will Nic Claxton return for the Bulls?
Claxton is listed out with a hamstring injury, and his projected return date is Nov. 4. Until then the Bulls are short at center, with Zach Collins and Tobe Awaka also on the injury report.
