Not exactly the postgame reaction Bulls fans want to hear after the first game, but against a shorthanded Pelicans team playing without Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, the Bulls assembled a sloppy offensive performance marred by 21 turnovers that led to 30 Pelicans points.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced star forward Zion Williamson will miss their opener Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls with an illness. Head coach

New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson missed Wednesday night's season opener against the visiting Chicago Bulls due to illness. Williamson was scratched prior to the game when his illness didn't display improvement.

As far as Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls are concerned, the source of the booing has been buried in the past. NBA fans, however, are less willing to move on.

Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey admitted he was “surprised” by the reception from fans in New Orleans after he was mercilessly booed throughout his debut for the Chicago Bulls.

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball checked into Wednesday night's game with 6:14 left in the first quarter to mark his first official NBA game since January 2022.

Ball played 13 minutes and 39 seconds in his return to live action, and by and large, he looked like his old self in a 123-111 loss for Chicago. He quickly drained a 3-pointer upon entering the game, and in his second stint later on, he threw a gorgeous alley-oop to Zach LaVine, one of those few returning teammates.