NEWSLETTER
BEAT THE PACERS (please … sorry for yelling).
Broadcast Info
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers (6:00 CT) on NBC Sports Chicago, 670 The Score (Audio)
Chicago Bulls
Projected Starters:
1. Coby White
2. Zach LaVine
3. Garrett Temple
4. Patrick Williams
5. Wendell Carter Jr.!!!!!!
Injury Report: Lauri Markkanen OUT (shoulder), Otto Porter OUT (back), Hutchison OUT (personal reasons)
Guess Who’s Back: Wendell Carter Jr. Will Play Tonight Against the Pacers!https://t.co/Xig9x6txzi
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) February 15, 2021
Indiana Pacers
Projected Starters:
1. Malcolm Brogdon
2. Justin Holiday
3. Doug McDermott
4. Domantas Sabonis
5. Myles Turner
Injury Report: Doug McDermott QUESTIONABLE (knee), Caris LeVert (medical condition), T.J. Warren (foot)
Odds
The Bulls are +5.0 point underdogs for tonight’s matchup against the Pacers, according to the FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook (-110) and the PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook (-110). The DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook lists the Bulls as a +5.5 point underdog (-110),
You can sign up for each of those books below, and get yourself a nice deposit bonus in the process.
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Coby over 16.5 points … ?
3 Player Props for Bulls vs. Pacers (February 15, 2021) https://t.co/CuWF4ZIMtY
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) February 15, 2021
What to Watch For
• Wendell Carter Jr., duh! The Bulls big man will see his first action since January 18th, and it will by no means be an easy matchup. The Pacers frontcourt can be a dominant duo on any given night, With Domantas Sabonis averaging 20.8 points per game on one end of the floor and Myles Turner averaging 3.6 blocks per game on the other. I don’t expect Carter Jr. to receive his normal workload tonight, but I at least feel a tiny bit better about the Bulls chances to neutralize these big men on some possessions with him returning to the lineup.
• The Pacers are one of the more disciplined teams in the NBA, committing the league’s 5th-fewest turnovers per game. Meanwhile, the Bulls are still turning the ball over roughly 16 times per game, which ranks 29th in the NBA. The Pacers defense may not be the most frisky outside of Turner, but they do know how to take advantage of the opposing team’s mistakes, averaging 18.7 points off turnovers so far this season (6th in the league). It’s always important for the Bulls to limit their self-inflicted wounds but doing it against a team like Pacers is that much more important.
• Doug McDermott is … uh … playing well. The former Bulls draft pick is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game and is coming off a 26-point showing against the Atlanta Hawks. If the Bulls lose because of McBuckets … someone will have to get me a bucket (zing!)
• Patrick Williams needs a bounceback game. The rookie finished with only 3 points and 4 rebounds in the Bulls last game against the Clippers. Even more frustrating, he only attempted five shots despite shooting at least seven attempts in his previous seven games. Feed the rook, please.
• Look for more Tomas Satoransky.
Get Caught Up …
LIVE: Head Coach Billy Donovan media availability prior to tonight’s game against the Pacers https://t.co/sYWJbVrBMV
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 15, 2021
📍Indiana
Let's get it #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/xiR60b7aDU
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 15, 2021
Lauri Markkanen (right shoulder) hasn't done anything on the court, Billy Donovan says. He can do some conditioning.
He still has soreness and the 2-4 week timetable remains in place. He's been out about a week now.
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) February 14, 2021
Bulls Weekly Preview: Pacers, Hornets, 76ers, Kings – February 15-20, 2021https://t.co/GDlubQz3Jq
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) February 15, 2021
