Australian superstar Josh Giddey has been struck down by a hamstring injury amid his career-best NBA season at the Chicago Bulls.
After registering 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, the prized guard was forced off court in the first minute of the third quarter against Minnesota on Tuesday (AEDT).
The Bulls later confirmed he would not return for the rest of their home match at the United Centre.
Giddey threw a pass after dribbling down court, before clutching for his left hamstring.
It was a dirty night for Chicago, who had already been contending without centre Zach Collins and then lost Giddey's back-court partner Coby White to a calf injury in the first quarter.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan was unsure of Giddey and White's prognoses immediately after the thumping 136-101 loss to the Timberwolves.
The hot-and-cold Bulls are halfway through a six-game home stand that continues against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday (AEDT).
"No one has said to me they're not playing next game or they are playing. I have no idea," Donovan said.
The rebuilding Bulls had been behind only five points at half-time but slipped well off the pace without their injured guards.
"We've got to be a whole lot better," Donovan said.
"Are the injuries impactful? Yes. But these guys are all pros and they all want an opportunity to play.
"Coby and Josh, whatever their status may be in the future, I think there's enough there with Ayo (Dosunmu) and Kevin (Huerter) and Tre Jones to carry the load."
Giddey has been revelatory in his second season at the Bulls, averaging just shy of a triple-double per game with 19.5 points, 9.2 assists and 9.1 rebounds.
The 23-year-old is ranked second in the NBA with seven triple-doubles this season.
He set a new record for the fastest triple-double by a Bulls player by completing the feat in 20 minutes and two seconds against Atlanta last week.
Fresh from signing a $US100m, four-year contract extension in the off-season, Giddey is staking his claim to become only the second Australian selected as an NBA All-Star, after Ben Simmons.
Giddey could still be picked even if injured though he will miss the chance to continue pushing his selection case if sidelined long-term.
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze said this week, prior to Giddey's injury, the guard was rightly in the frame for All-Star honours.
"I don't think there'd be too many people who would raise their eyebrows if he did get selected. I don't think it'd be, 'That's a shock'," Gaze told AAP.
"He's right there in the conversation."
It was a similarly bad night for Denver star Nikola Jokic who limped off the court in Miami after appearing to hurt his left knee just before the intermission.
If he misses any time it would be a massive blow to the Nuggets.
Jokic is a three-time MVP and certainly was in the early MVP conversation this season, having entered Monday averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists.
In his absence, Denver went down 147-123 to the Heat.
