Bulls feeling like they avoided a major injury to guard Josh Giddey

BOSTON — It doesn’t seem possible knowing the Bulls’ recent history, but they might have dodged a much more serious injury than first anticipated.

Guard Josh Giddey crumbled to the court during the second half of the victory over the Raptors on Monday, injuring the same right ankle that cost him most of the summer after the Olympics.

It initially looked to be the type of setback that would cost Giddey weeks, but according to coach Billy Donovan, the starter could be looking at days.

“Not as bad as we originally thought,” Donovan said before Thursday’s 117-108 victory against the Celtics. “Did have some swelling, has some soreness right now. We don’t think it’s going to be a long-term situation where he’s going to be out like he was this summer [at the Olympics] when he sprained it and it took him a long time to get back. We’re not there. It is the same ankle so we’re going to be careful, but coming out of the game the next morning there was a lot of optimism that it certainly wasn’t as bad as we initially thought.”

The unknown is what kind of timetable Giddey is looking at, but until he can get on the floor and start running, that will remain unknown.

Giddey had started the first 27 games and was averaging 11.9 points, 6.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds.

“The timeline is going to be difficult to say when he’d be back, but if he continues to progress like this we would hope soon,” Donovan said.

The Bulls were also without Dalen Terry, who was still dealing with a right knee bruise. Terry has started practicing, however.

Case of the humbles

It was announced on Thursday by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame that Donovan was among those eligible for the Class of 2025.

“Obviously I’m incredibly honored,” said Donovan, who was a first-time nominee. “I’m a big, big believer that you’re only as good as the people around you. I’ve been really fortunate in terms of the people that coached me throughout my time playing, and then obviously assistant coaches that I’ve worked with. Athletic directors, front offices, and most importantly the players that I’ve had a chance to coach. From a very, very young age all the way through, just great people around me.”

Other nominees included Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Dwight Howard, Doc Rivers, Sylvia Fowles, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mark Few, Lisa Bluder, Marc Gasol and Micky Arison.

“The nominees on the official ballot for the Class of 2025 represent a broad cross-section of our game,” Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva said in a statement. “From Olympic gold medals to NBA and WNBA titles to collegiate championships, these nominees epitomize the career of a Hall of Famer.”

Donovan took the Florida Gators to four Final Fours and won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.

Thumbs up

The Bulls were able to spend three days in Boston after the game in Toronto, and rather than let his teammates do their own thing or have too much downtime, two-time All-Star Zach LaVine decided to have a night at the movies.

LaVine rented out a Boston movie theater and paid for the entire travelling party to go see “Gladiator II.”