NEWSLETTER
BEAT. THE. LAKERS.
Broadcast Info
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls (8:00 CT) on NBC Sports Chicago, 670 The Score (Audio)
Chicago Bulls
Projected Starters:
1. Coby White
2. Zach LaVine
3. Patrick Williams
4. Lauri Markkanen
5. Daniel Gafford
Injury Report: Wendell Carter Jr. OUT (quad), Otto Porter (rest)
Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Starters:
1. Dennis Schroder
2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
3. LeBron James
4. Anthony Davis
5. Marc Gasol
Injury Report: LeBron James QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Jared Dudley OUT (calf), Kostas Antetokounmpo (knee)
What to Watch For
• The last time these two matched up, the Bulls were missing Lauri Markkanen, Tomas Satoransky, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Chandler Hutchison. Oh, and Otto Porter only played six minutes. Despite all of that, however, the team somehow managed to walk away with only a 3-point loss. Can they manage to do the same tonight? Well, it’ll be a lot easier said than done. While Markkanen, Satoransky, Arcidiacono, and Hutchison are all available, the Bulls will be without Carter Jr. and Porter. The absence of Carter Jr. is particularly concerning when we consider that he had his highest-scoring performance of the season when these two first played. The Lakers are a pretty massive and physical team, so the absence of his rim-protecting could prove to fatal, especially with Anthony Davis back on the floor (who didn’t play in Game 1).
• In other words, Lauri Markkanen, Daniel Gafford, and Thaddeus Young will have to play some physical basketball underneath the rim. The Lakers are the 3rd-best rebounding team in the NBA, and while the Bulls are not bad (12th), they will be without their top rebounder.
• Can Coby White string together another solid performance? After two-straight bleh games, White posted an 18-point, 8-assist night against the Hornets on Friday. The Bulls will arguably need him to play even better if they stand a chance against a healthy Lakers squad.
• Patrick Williams vs. LeBron James Round 2 … yes, please.
• A win tonight would be … kind of a big deal.
It's been over 1100 days since the Bulls were last on a 4+ game winning streak.
They could get their first since December 2017 with a win over the Lakers tonight. Pregame 7:45 on @670TheScore.
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) January 23, 2021
Get Caught Up …
LIVE: Head Coach Billy Donovan media availability prior to tonight’s game against the Lakers https://t.co/7nEiMJO3d3
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 24, 2021
No Wendell or Otto Tonight, An Expert’s Opinion, The Pitchforks Are Out, and Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/6wsMujQKZR
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 23, 2021
LeBron James is playing tonight vs. Bulls, per Lakers coach Frank Vogel. Had been questionable
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) January 24, 2021
If Donovan chooses to go his typical 10 deep, curious to see if Chandler Hutchison or Ryan Arcidiacono enters rotation w/ Porter out. Bulls have had success playing Porter at 4 and Young at 5 in reserve unit. Hutchison can play 4 but can also go 3-guard look. Lotta options.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 23, 2021
We meet again, @Lakers.@LiquiMolyUSA | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/YfN6Eha58c
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 24, 2021
Bulls PPG in 2019-20 ranked … 27th
Bulls PPG in 2020-21 ranks … 4th
Other than Patrick Williams and Garrett Temple, the roster is the exact same. Amazing.
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 23, 2021
