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Two nights earlier, clinging to a single-digit fourth-quarter lead in Orlando, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey waltzed to the scorer’s table.

It took 17 seconds before Giddey reverted to the bench of his own volition. He nudged coach Billy Donovan on his way back, a vote for a surging Ayo Dosunmu to keep playing. Giddey, moved by the momentum Chicago’s reserves conjured, decided he wasn’t needed. That he — a $100 million guard in a league of egos and agendas — was not bigger than the program.

That rippling choice could be felt on Monday.

The throughline in this 3-0 start to the season — wins over Detroit, Orlando and now Atlanta, wh

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