A win might not mean too much … but it sure would put a smile on my face.
Broadcast Info
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks – 7:00 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago, 670 The Score (audio)
Chicago Bulls
Projected Starters:
1. Coby White
2. Garrett Temple
3. Patrick Williams
4. Thaddeus Young
5. Nikola Vucevic
Injury Report: Nikola Vucevic QUESTIONABLE (groin), Zach LaVine OUT (NBA Protocol), Troy Brown Jr. OUT (ankle)
Atlanta Hawks
Projected Starters:
1. Trae Young
2. Tony Snell
3. Soloman Hill
4. John Collins
5. Clint Capela
Injury Report: De’Andre Hunter OUT (knee), Cam Reddish OUT (Achillies), Kevin Huerter QUESTIONABLE (shoulder), Bogdan Bogdanovic QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)
What to Watch For …
• Head coach Billy Donovan announced that Nikola Vucevic will be available for tonight’s game despite some right adductor tightness. While the game will be an uphill battle even with him in the lineup, the Bulls would have stood practically zero chance without him on the floor. The Hawks are the league’s 9th-best rebounding team thanks to the strong play of center Clint Capela. The big man averages a league-high 14.3 rebounds per game, so to say Vucevic’s own rebounding ability is needed would be an understatement. Vooch has averaged 14.6 rebounds over the team’s last five games to go along with 22 points.
• UPDATE (6:30): So scratch everything written above because Vucevic has now been ruled out. Grab a drink. This is going to be a tough one.
Nikola Vucevic is now OUT vs. Hawks, per Bulls PR.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 1, 2021
• Speaking of Vucevic, he will need to have a much more efficient night from the floor to keep the Bulls within striking distance. He shot just 7-27 from the field and 1-9 from the 3-point line. Likewise, with no Zach LaVine on the floor to drop 50, guys like Coby White and Daniel Theis are going to have to come up big against this 23-ranked Hawks defense.
• Kris Dunn will play his first game against his former team tonight after sitting out with injury in each of the previous two meetings between these squads. He has only averaged about 14 minutes per game since he returned three games ago, but let’s hope those 14 minutes aren’t too vengeful.
• Try not to let Trae Young score 42 points again, please.
• Hawks are also on the backend of a back-to-back after losing to the 76ers 104-126 last night. With Bogdanovic and Huerter potentially on the sideline, the Bulls could have an opportunity to finally hop on this tired Hawks team early.
• Lauri Markkanen will be back in the rotation after missing last night’s game due to illness.
Lauri Markkanen and Nikola Vucevic are available vs. Hawks, per Billy Donovan.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 1, 2021
Get Caught Up …
The LaVine Situation, a Talent Problem, Nikola Vucevic’s Much-needed Mindset, and Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/C18oEeNPeP
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 1, 2021
LIVE: Billy Donovan pregame vs. Hawks https://t.co/Zpy7gIlYuZ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 1, 2021