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![\"CHICAGO,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-Z-2253994518_256605230.jpg\")
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (Michael Reaves\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nThe Chicago Bulls can\u2019t survive without Coby White and Josh Giddey.<\/p>\n
This team was built around this pairing \u2014 White\u2019s prolific shot-making from deep, Giddey\u2019s exhaustive playmaking with the ball in his hands. When either \u2014 or, worse, both \u2014 of those pillars are removed, the rest of the structure crumbles away. And nothing proved this point more thoroughly than Monday\u2019s 136-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n
The Bulls took a major loss less than seven minutes into the game when Coby White came up short midway through a defensive possession. White grabbed at his right calf before attempting to return to the play, scrambling around the perimeter with a visible limp. But after trying to contest a shot by Donte DiVincenzo, the guard couldn\u2019t gather himself enough to hobble back into the play. White headed straight to the locker room after an ensuing timeout was called and was later ruled out with a right calf injury.<\/p>\n
Losing White was a blow \u2014 but it was one the Bulls were prepared to weather. The guard missed the first 11 games of the season, forcing Chicago to adapt to a reality without one of their central stars. But barely a minute into the second half, the Bulls seemed to suffer d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu.<\/p>\n
Guard Josh Giddey pulled up awkwardly at the top of the key, tossing the ball to a teammate before grabbing at his left hamstring. Just like White, the guard headed straight to the locker room at the next whistle, shuffling awkwardly with assistance from head athletic trainer Todd Campbell. The team ruled Giddey out with a hamstring injury before the end of the third quarter.<\/p>\n
For the Bulls, this one-two punch was lethal. Giddey averages 19.5 points and 9.2 assists per game. White averages 20.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. That roughly translates to more than a third of the team\u2019s total offense.<\/p>\n
The Bulls pride themselves on depth, but that didn\u2019t seem to provide any resilience in the face of these two major injuries. The white flag went up with more than five minutes left on the clock as the Bulls cleared their bench to accept the 35-point defeat.<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from the loss.<\/p>\n
1. A big problem.
\nAnthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (Michael Reaves\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Bulls couldn\u2019t lean into their double-big rotation \u2014 which has been remarkably effective in limited usage this season \u2014 against the Timberwolves due to the absence of center Zach Collins.<\/p>\n