NEWSLETTER
After a narrow loss to the Bucks and an extremely tough week in which the Bulls learned that they would be without Lonzo Ball (knee surgery) and Alex Caruso (wrist surgery) for the next couple of months, a matchup with the lowly Orlando Magic is just what the doctor ordered for Billy Donovan and Co.
Suspend Grayson Allen for eternity.
Alex Caruso’s Wrist is Fractured, He’s Getting Surgery – https://t.co/4YhsoNABs5 pic.twitter.com/PuQ1edhGWG
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 22, 2022
Game Info
Chicago Bulls (28-16) at Orlando Magic (8-39) – 5:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV), and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Ayo Dosunmu
2. Coby White
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Tyler Cook
5. Nikola Vučević
Injury Report: Patrick Williams OUT (Wrist), Lonzo Ball OUT (knee), Zach LaVine OUT (knee), Derrick Jones Jr. OUT (knee), Javonte Green OUT (groin), Alex Caruson OUT (Wrist)
Orlando Magic
1. Cole Anthony
2. Gary Harris
3. Franz Wagner
4. Wendell Carter Jr.
5. Mo Bamba
Injury Report: Michael Carter-Williams OUT (Ankle), E’Twaun Moore OUT (Knee), Markelle Fultz OUT (H&S P’s), Jonathan Isaac OUT (Knee)
What to Watch For …
• The Bulls have won the first two contests between Chicago and Orlando this season with a 123-88 win in Orlando on November 26 and most recently a 102-98 win at the United Center on January 3. The Magic enter tonight’s contest losers of four in a row and 14 of their last 15 games. The Bulls will look to win their third game against the Magic in a game that they need to win. These games will be paramount to their playoff hopes with the roster depleted with injury.
• At 28-16 (.636), the Bulls sport the second-best record in the East. The last time Chicago was 12 games over .500 after 44 games was January 22, 2015, per Bulls media relations.
• DeMar DeRozan is one of four players in the Eastern Conference to average at least 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game this season and the Bulls will need DeRozan to continue his MVP-caliber play until they can get some reinforcements back in the lineup behind him.
• Speaking of reinforcements, maybe I can interest you in this excellent survey of the scene by Elias Schuster this week:
PJ Washington? Robert Covington? Dorian Finney-Smith? Me in moon shoes?
I wrote about some other frontcourt options the Chicago Bulls might want to take a look at this trade deadline ⬇️https://t.co/cIlf4GE9b2
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) January 20, 2022
