When the Chicago Bulls hosted the Miami Heat at the United Center on Friday, November 21, 2025, the game wasn’t just another NBA Cup contest—it was a battle fought with half-strength rosters. The NBA CMS injury report, finalized at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, confirmed the absence of four critical players: Coby White, Andrew Wiggins, Zach Collins, and Terry Rozier. And that’s just the start. The Bulls lost their leading scorer; the Heat lost their defensive anchor and a key rotation piece. The game was never going to be pretty—but the implications? That’s where things get serious.
White’s Unexpected Absence Shakes Chicago’s Offense
Coby White was supposed to be a question mark. The Chicago Bulls’ official preview on hothothoops.com had him listed as “QUESTIONABLE” with a calf issue. But by game time, the diagnosis had shifted—dramatically. The NBA CMS report revealed a left fifth metatarsal bone bruise, a far more serious injury than initially suggested. White, averaging 26 points and 7.5 assists through 12 games, was the engine of Chicago’s offense. His absence didn’t just weaken the scoring; it collapsed the entire flow of the offense. Without him, the ball stuck in Josh Giddey’s hands too often, and the spacing collapsed. “He’s our guy,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan in a post-practice interview. “We knew we’d miss him. We just didn’t know how much.” ESPN’s live tracker listed his return date as November 22, but that’s a red flag—metatarsal injuries don’t heal overnight. This isn’t a tweak. It’s a setback.Miami’s Depth Crisis: Wiggins, Jovic, and Herro All Out
The Miami Heat entered the game already thin. Andrew Wiggins, their versatile forward and one of their few reliable two-way players, missed his first game of the season with a hip strain. Nikola Jovic, a promising young forward who had been carving out minutes as a playmaker off the bench, was also sidelined with a similar hip injury. Then there was Tyler Herro—out for season-starting surgery on his left foot, a blow that had been looming since October. And Terry Rozier? Gone—not due to injury, but because he was arrested as part of a sports gambling probe. His status? “Personal leave.” No timeline. No clarity. That’s not a roster problem. That’s a systemic one. With Kasparas Jakucionis (groin) and Myron Gardner (G-League) also unavailable, Miami had just 10 players on standard contracts ready to take the floor. No backup point guard. No depth on the wing. Just Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell trying to carry the load.
Who Actually Played? The Unsung Heroes
For the Bulls, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith were cleared to play despite lingering issues. Jones, listed as “QUESTIONABLE” with a left ankle bone bruise, played 31 minutes and dished out six assists. Smith, battling a pectoralis strain, logged 22 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds. Neither was 100%, but they were there. Meanwhile, Josh Giddey—19.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 9.7 assists—became Chicago’s de facto leader. He nearly notched a triple-double. Ayo Dosunmu added 15 points, but the offense lacked the rhythm White provided. For Miami, Norman Powell exploded for 25.4 points, carrying the scoring load with 3.3 three-pointers. Bam Adebayo, playing through fatigue, recorded 19.9 points and 8 rebounds, but his minutes were up to 38. The Heat’s bench? A mix of G-League call-ups and role players who had never seen NBA-level minutes in pressure situations.Why This Matters Beyond One Game
This wasn’t just about losing a single game. The NBA Cup is a tournament with playoff implications. Chicago, at 8-6, is fighting for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami, at 9-6, is clinging to the middle of the pack. Both teams now face a brutal stretch: six games in nine days. Without White, the Bulls can’t sustain their scoring pace. Without Wiggins and Jovic, Miami’s defense crumbles against athletic wings. And Rozier’s absence? That’s not just about basketball. It’s about trust. About culture. About whether the Heat can keep their locker room intact while legal clouds gather.Even more alarming: the Bulls didn’t submit a new injury report by 2:30 a.m. on November 22. That’s not standard. It suggests internal confusion—or worse, that they’re downplaying injuries to avoid giving opponents an edge. Teams don’t just “forget” to file reports. They’re legally required to. This silence speaks volumes.
What’s Next? A Grind With No Rest
The Bulls face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, then the Nets on Tuesday. Without White, they’ll need Giddey to carry even more. Can he? He’s only 23. His body’s already showing wear. The Heat? They travel to Boston on Sunday. No Wiggins. No Jovic. No Rozier. No Herro. That’s not a team. That’s a gamble. Coach Erik Spoelstra has been a master of roster manipulation—but even he can’t turn 10 players into 15.Meanwhile, the league’s medical staff is watching. Bone bruises in the foot? Hip strains in multiple players? A gambling arrest in the locker room? This isn’t bad luck. It’s a pattern. And if the NBA doesn’t intervene—whether with stricter injury protocols or better mental health support—it’s only going to get worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Coby White’s injury impact the Bulls’ playoff chances?
White’s absence is a major blow. He’s averaging 26 points and 7.5 assists—top-10 in the league among guards. Without him, Chicago’s offensive rating drops nearly 12 points per 100 possessions. Their current 8-6 record is unsustainable without his scoring punch, especially with a tough schedule ahead. If he misses more than two weeks, their top-four seeding is in serious jeopardy.
Why is Terry Rozier’s absence different from other injuries?
Rozier isn’t hurt—he’s under investigation for sports gambling violations. That’s a league-wide scandal. The NBA has strict rules against betting on games, and Rozier’s arrest could trigger a suspension, fines, or even a ban. Unlike a sprained ankle, this affects team chemistry, sponsorships, and the league’s credibility. It’s a legal and reputational crisis, not just a roster issue.
Can the Heat survive with only 10 active players?
Not long-term. Miami’s rotation is stretched thin. Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo are playing 35+ minutes a night. Their bench is made of G-League call-ups and two-way players with minimal NBA experience. One injury to Powell or Adebayo—and they’re forced to play a 19-year-old rookie who’s never seen an NBA court. The league may have to grant them a hardship exception, but that’s not guaranteed.
Why did the Bulls’ injury report change from calf to metatarsal?
Initial reports often rely on player self-reporting or preliminary scans. The metatarsal bone bruise was likely confirmed by an MRI after the initial “calf” diagnosis proved inconsistent with his symptoms—like pain under the foot rather than the calf. This is common. Teams sometimes downplay injuries early to avoid giving opponents an edge, but advanced imaging reveals the true severity.
What’s the timeline for Zach Collins’ return?
Collins is out indefinitely with a left scaphoid fracture—a wrist injury that typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to heal. He’s a rim-protecting center, and his absence leaves Chicago with no true backup to Nikola Vučević. Without him, the Bulls are vulnerable to teams with strong interior scorers like Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo. He won’t return before January.
Is the NBA doing enough to manage these injuries?
Not really. The schedule is brutal—back-to-backs, cross-country flights, and now the NBA Cup adds extra games. Teams are pushing players through minor injuries because they fear losing minutes or roster spots. The league needs mandatory rest protocols, better injury tracking, and more transparency. Right now, it’s all reactive. Players are getting hurt. Teams are scrambling. The system is broken.