With Danuel House Jr. running out of 2-way NBA days, Rockets open talks in standard contract

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan hasn’t had Josh Giddey in his closing lineup over the last week. Giddey knows that it’s his defense that’s keeping him off the floor.

“It was horrible from start to finish,” Giddey said of his play. “I think defensively it was just – and I’m talking about me – it was a mess from the jump. They put me in action, I have to be way better, whether it’s coverage or sitting down and guarding somebody. I don’t even blame it on the fouls. It was part of it, but everything else was just as bad. I wouldn’t have played myself if I was Billy. I was bad on both sides of the ball.”

Giddey felt he had been improving defensively, but recognizes he’s taken a step back.

“It pisses me off to be on that side of the ball and be like that,” Giddey said. “I thought I was making steps in the right direction. To have a night like I did tonight kind of kills your confidence.”

However, Donovan said he’s still “got confidence” in Giddey. The Bulls coach said to expect to see the young wing back in closing lineups eventually.

Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely to start the LA Clippers’ 24-25 season as he rehabs from inflammation in his right knee. Leonard is currently in the midst of a rehab process in hopes of sustainably allowing him to play through the season.

Leonard has not participated in any on-court contact during training camp.

“He has not been a part of what we’ve been doing on a daily basis,” Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw said after Wednesday’s practice. “I know the company line has been that we’re going to be patient with him, so he’s doing everything that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his own with our medical staff. And we’re just dealing with the guys that we have [available].”

James Harden figures to play a larger role in the absence of Leonard.