Many have been surprised by Chicago's 2-0 start to the year. In both matchups, they faced Eastern Conference playoff opponents from a season ago and were underdogs. Despite the odds, they were able to steal two games to begin their 2025-26 campaign undefeated and are not showing any signs of slowing down. Although they beat the Orlando Magic by 12 and held them under 100 points, Matas Buzelis was a head-scratching eyesore the entire night. He got in early foul trouble, looked hesitant and timid offensively, and was a non-factor in the win. What happened to the blossoming star, and is he holding back from an injury potentially suffered on opening night?
Buzelis Looked Like A Different Player
On Saturday night in Orlando, Buzelis did not look like the high-flying, energetic, athletic freak that Chicago fans have come to know. He played only 12 minutes, the second-fewest on the team, and attempted only five shots while scoring three points. Two of his five attempts were from three-point land, and he only got to the free-throw line once after attempting 12 shots and earning seven tries from the charity stripe on opening night. Late in the game against Detroit, he landed on the foot of Jalen Duren on a three-point attempt and went down holding his lower leg. While he did return to play and finish the game, and he also did not show up on any injury reports since that night, something looks off. Is his ankle injury lingering?
I don’t think Buzelis is fully healthy. Ever since he sprained ankle against pistons he hasn’t looked like his explosive, unintimidated self.
— Miles Wright (@MilesWr83458121) October 26, 2025
Hopefully, Just An Off Night
Since he has not been listed on any injury reports and no word of a lasting ailment has been made public, the current assumption has to be that he just had an off night. He did draw a tough matchup in Paulo Banchero, an All-Star and one of the more powerful forwards Buzelis will see this season. Chicago's youngster was in foul trouble early, never able to find his rhythm offensively, and fouled out with just 12 minutes of action. For the Bulls and Buzelis's case, Saturday night was hopefully just a humbling experience that had nothing to do with the potential ankle injury suffered against Detroit. As a sophomore in the NBA who is still learning to defend at a high level and find his shots offensively, it's entirely possible it was just a speed bump on the route to stardom.
Matas Buzelis Stats For REGULAR SEASON Game vs MAGIC 25-10-2025 #MatasBuzelis #Matas #Buzelis #nba #nbahighlights #basketball #chicago #bulls #bulls #chicagobulls pic.twitter.com/FJrH9bJUfv
— NBA Players Highlights (@NBAPlayersHigh) October 26, 2025
Tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks will show whether Buzelis is genuinely affected by the ankle or just had a rough night on Saturday. The Hawks have a lackluster paint and transition defense, two of Chicago's strong suits and Buzelis's favorite places to find his points. Can the Bulls win their third in a row to begin the season?
