Josh Giddey's impressive post All-Star break run hit a sour note Tuesday, after the Bulls guard left their game against Indiana with an ankle injury.
Giddey, who was well on his way to a career night, exited the game early in the fourth quarter after seemingly landing on a Pacers players foot while trying to collect a rebound.
But while the injury initially looked severe, the Australian guard looks to have bounced back in impressive fashion.
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Josh Giddey injury update
Despite a worrying initial diagnosis, it seems that Giddey has avoided any major injury, with the Bulls guard telling media that he will be back sooner than expected.
"I thought when I did it it was a lot worse, because I've done it a number of times and you kind of gauge the pain level and that was probably the most pain I've had from a rolled ankle," Giddey said.
"When I woke up the next morning - I slept with a [Game Ready Compression machine] that night - and I got out of bed and I walked normally, and I was surprised.
"Then today, we're already back on the treadmill trying to start to move again, so I'm very fortunate it's not as bad as I originally thought it was.
"It's day-to-day now but I'm obviously not playing tomorrow [against Brooklyn], hopefully we get back on the court relatively soon.
"They haven't set a date, we're kind of taking it day-by-day, cause it responded so quickly to the treatments straight after the game, it's trending in a good direction."
The Bulls previously confirmed that Giddey had suffered a sprained ankle in their win against the Indiana Pacers.
It was the same ankle that the Australian injured at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and again early in the season.
Coach Billy Donovan said after the game that the team would not know the injury's severity for a few days.
"We asked him after the game, he said he was cool," teammate Coby White said after the game.
"He’s a tough guy. He’s got that Australian toughness in him. He’ll be all right."
Giddey exited the game just three-points shy of setting a new career-high, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, shooting 11-of-18 from the field.
Chicago's next three games come against the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Utah Jazz, as the team continues to hunt for a spot in the playoffs.