The Chicago Bulls don’t have any excuses tonight.
Not only will the Mavericks play on tired legs after battling the Milwaukee Bucks last night in Dallas, but they will be without three rotation players tonight at the United Center. The Mavericks announced that Luka Doncic, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber will all be on the sideline for this grueling backend of a back-to-back.
All things considered, this is now a must-win game for Billy Donovan’s crew. Doncic currently leads the league in scoring at 32.9 points per game, and he’s also right behind Giannis Antetokounmpo for the NBA’s highest usage percentage. Without him on the floor tonight – as well as two of the team’s better 3-point shooters in Green and Kleber – the Mavs should have an incredibly tough time on the offensive end.
Meanwhile, the Bulls are a well-rested bunch who are coming off a much-needed win against the Washington Wizards. If they plan to use these final few weeks of December to get back into the competitive mix, this is a game they simply have to grab, especially with a trip to Atlanta scheduled for tomorrow.