Josh Giddey returned from injury with 21 points as Chicago beat Minnesota 120-115
Josh Giddey says his confidence is high after returning from injury and providing a bench spark for the Chicago Bulls to upset Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-115 at the Target Center in his first game of the New Year.
Giddey had been sidelined since December 29 due to a hamstring injury but didn’t miss a beat in his return despite not starting, playing 26 minutes for 21 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Bulls recorded their third straight win to bounce back to .500 on the season.
“I feel good, I feel good. Obviously, it’s a little different coming off the bench on a minute restriction but I’ve done a great job and then the medical team’s done a great job getting me right, getting me healthy, we didn’t rush the process, so I feel good, feel healthy and good to get a good win on the road,” he said in the post-game interview.
“I think the first thing was playing five on five at practice and after practice with low minute guys and coaches and getting up and down a fair bit to stay in game shape and stay sharp with the ball.
“Obviously, coming in, it’s just basketball but when I’m off the bench on a minute or whatever it is, it’s just hooping to the end of the day. So I feel good, I’m confident, I feel healthy, so it’s good to be back.”
Now sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-22 record, Giddey said the immediate goal was to jump over .500 in their coming games.
“(To) get above .500 would be the first thing,” he said.
“We’ve kind of been hovering around there for a while but I think we’re starting to put the pieces together and it’s felt like this, the season’s been up and down. We’re going on win streaks, losing streaks but I think it’s just a matter of we’re healthy, I think we’re finally kind of getting back whole.
“Obviously, Zach and Noah are out but we’re starting to get some continuity within the group. So, we feel good, but we like where we’re at.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of stuff we’ve got to get better at but I think hovering around .500, obviously we want to get above that little hump right there but we’re in a good place, mentally, physically, I think, getting guys back.
“So we like where we’re at.”
Charlotte dismantled Orlando with a dominant opening quarter and sustained bench pressure, racing to a 35–20 first-quarter lead and never allowing the Magic back into the contest. The Hornets scored 35 points in both the first and third quarters, stretching the margin to as much as 27 behind efficient shooting and strong ball movement.
Off the bench, Australian Josh Green played a short, sharp role in the blowout. Green logged 16 minutes, scoring 6 points on 2-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three, with a +12 plus-minus. His minutes came during Charlotte’s decisive stretches, spacing the floor, defending across positions, and keeping the Hornets’ tempo high with the second unit.
Charlotte’s starters set the tone early — Brandon Miller finished with 20 points, LaMelo Ball had 16 points and seven assists, and the Hornets shot 54% from the field and 47% from three. Orlando, led by Paolo Banchero’s 23 points and Desmond Bane’s 21, struggled to slow Charlotte’s perimeter attack and spent the night chasing the game after falling behind early.